9/11 Commission Vice Chair: Path to 9/11 Is ‘Not Good For the Country’
9/11 Commission Vice Chair: Path to 9/11 Is ‘Not Good For the Country’
In his first public comments about the matter, former Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Lee Hamilton, said he was not asked to participate in the production of ABC’s The Path to 9/11, noting it is one of the few instances that he has not been asked to participate with Kean on a project related to the Commission’s work. He condemned the docudrama, saying that to fudge the distinction between news and entertainment “is not good for the country.” Watch it:
Transcript:
I was not asked to participate in the ABC production. As far as I can remember Tom, it’s about the only time when — you and I were asked to do so many things together — they didn’t ask me to participate in this. I didn’t even know about it. Tom mentioned on one or two occassions that he was advising ABC, and I didn’t pay much attention to it.
After there was a screening on a Sunday night as I recall, which I did not attend, I got calls from several Democrats who objected very strongly to the way in which Sandy Berger and Madeleine Albright and even president clinton were portrayed. As it was described to me then, I thought that the letter signed by Bruce Lindsey and Mr. Doug Band, I think it is, was accurate in their criticisms of ABC. That they portrayed Sandy Berger and Madeleine Albright doing things that they did not in fact do.
Now, ABC presents this as I understand it — I did not see it last night either — as a docudrama. I don’t like the ring of that. It is either a documentary or it is a drama. And to fudge it causes me a great deal of concern and suggests to me that news and entertainment are getting dangerously intertwined. And I do not think that that is good for the country. Because an event of this consequence is very hard to understand, and to distort it or to not present it factually in this kind of presentation I think does not serve the country well.
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The inaccuries in this stupid miniseries are nothing compared to the omissions and distortions in the 9/11 Commission Report. If you liberals had attacked THAT document with half the intensity you use now, 9/11 might be solved by now.
Good going focusing on distractions. :(
September 11th, 2006 at 3:08 pmWell, damn it, why didn’t he say something before the damned thing aired? It’s a little late now that millions have seen this trash and now have a distorted and incorrect view of what actually happened. I’m watching the actual CNN broadcast from that morning and I’ll tell you, it just gets me angry, bitter and disgusted all over again. Turning this tragedy into a political football is unconscionable. Going into Iraq and diverting resources instead of concentrating on getting bin Laden is unconscionable and criminal. Ignoring the PDB in August that said “Bin Laden intent on attacking within the U.S.” is just unbelievable and mind-boggling. And continuing to use 9/11 5 years later to frighten and manipulate American citizens is just too much to bear. It is indeed a sad day – not only because of 9/11 but because of all the horrors that have happened since.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:12 pm#2: I was just thinking the same thing. Why the hell didn’t he speak up earlier?
Between him and Mitchell, the silence was deafening.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:17 pmAt least we know that Lee Hamilton gets it. I will avoid ABC’s programming at all costs from now on as I do Fox News. When news becomes pseudo-news and news networks become obvious propaganda outlets simply to reinvigorate (or reindoctrinate) your base it is truly a sad comentary on the state of affairs in this country.
What is really sad are the millions and millions of people in America that believe it all, lock, stock and barrel.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:17 pm….saying that to fudge the distinction between news and entertainment “is not good for the country.â€
But what about the great communicator, Reagan? What about all the attack poodles?
September 11th, 2006 at 3:17 pmI followed the advice of someone on Crooks & Liars and used my Tivo three thumbs down on ABC’s “Path to 9/11″. According to the person that wrote the article, they use records obtained from Tivo’s also to track what we’re watching. Great! I also went through Fox News, Bill O’Reilly, and others with three thumbs down. I’m liking this! Three thumbs down on Tucker Carlson and Meet the Press. Three thumbs up for Keith Olbermann’s “Countdown”. It’s so satisfying to think you might have some influence, or be heard, no matter how small it is.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:18 pmthe truth doesn’t even matter anymore :(
September 11th, 2006 at 3:19 pmjust subsitute political corruption
and make up a new truth :)
I wonder if this would qualify as flag desecration. Check out this picture. http://www.michaelmoore.com/
September 11th, 2006 at 3:22 pmthe truth doesn’t even matter anymore :(
September 11th, 2006 at 3:22 pmbut with a little bit of political corruption….
now we know the truth :)
or at least what they want us sheep to believe
So let me get this straight, the republican attack dogs are all insisting that only “the islamofascist progressives” are upset about this film and everybody else, “real patriotic Americans” have no problems with it. So now that all the BUSH appointed 9-11 commisioners condemn the film, what will the republican fascists say now?
September 11th, 2006 at 3:25 pmCORRUPT POLITICAL PROPAGANDA
September 11th, 2006 at 3:29 pmBOTH GRAND OLD PARTY (YEH RIGHT)
& DEMOCRAT… ALL A BUNCH OF
CROOKS
Good going focusing on distractions. :(
Comment by Random Rightie — September 11, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
Pres Bush signed the Commission into existence after opposing its creation for months, and then failed to adequately fund it. The White House stonewalled the commission’s work for weeks. Republicans control all branches of government, but failed to facilitate the commission’s work -yet it is liberals who are to blame for the report’s omissions and inaccuracies?
Shheeeess….
September 11th, 2006 at 3:30 pmReichWingNuts: “Truth. Who needs it when you can have faith?”
/off sarcasm
September 11th, 2006 at 3:32 pmI am so angry at ABC for becoming the 2nd wing of the Bush propaganda machine.
My son was in New York, on his way to college classes he passed under the WTC on the subway, just minutes before it happened.
My father, who retired from civil service last year, was on his way to the pentagon for a meeting, just blocks away when it was hit
I went through the agony of waiting till, they could call out 2 days later, not knowing if either was dead or alive.
One of my close friends lost his brother and sister at the
pentagon
How dare ABC and the Bush administration politicize this national tradegy
September 11th, 2006 at 3:32 pmThey are scum
Good going focusing on distractions. :(
Comment by Random Rightie — September 11, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
Pres Bush signed the 9/11 Commission into existence after opposing its creation for months, and then failed to adequately fund it. The White House stonewalled the commission’s work for weeks; Pres Bush and VP Cheney even went to great lengths to delay their testimony. Republicans control all branches of government, but failed to facilitate the commission’s work -yet it is liberals who are to blame for the report’s omissions and inaccuracies?
Shheeeess….
September 11th, 2006 at 3:32 pmI have sent ABC the following two words.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:32 pmV-Chip.
What the hell was Kean doing in the background, with that silly grin, and nodding as Hamilton said this piece o’crap was bad for the country? Did he admit he stepped in a big pile of cheney with this? Or is he still saying “it’s just the blogosphere”? and dammit, I want to know how much he was paid for this?
September 11th, 2006 at 3:39 pmPrior, during, and after – the strongest link between 9/11 and bin Ladin and Iraq is the Bush family.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:42 pmAfter stonewalling for months Scott McClellan had the gall to say, “This administration has provided unprecedented cooperation to the 9/11 commission.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/27/politics/main602767.shtml
September 11th, 2006 at 3:43 pmToo little. Too late.
The ReichWing has already shown it’s true colors.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:44 pmRandom Rightie
I WOULD LOVE TO ATTACK THE 911 COMISSION REPORT, but our lying
President still has his boys stalling the second part which actually looks at
the mountain of mistakes this miserable and disgraceful failure has
made and the mess he’s created for all of us. BUSH that is !
The soultion to 911 was never to invade and occupy Iraq which has nothing to do with 911. Iraq that is.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:48 pm“I didn’t even know about it.” seems to be the recurring theme. There is no doubt they wanted to spring this on unsuspecting Americans.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:01 pmTotal bullshit.
Part One of The Path to Cheney Treason on 9-11 was a real snoozearama… Of course, I only watched a few minutes sans sound and been forwarded by TP and HuffingtonPost as to the true nature of this lame turkey. The fact that Cheney and Bush stonewalled any citizen commission investigation of the monkey business on 9-11 was enough for me to know that C+B+R were hiding some nasty crap…
Maybe Part II will be better: especially when ABC shows how Bush cancelled any CIA or FBI investigations into possible Saudi-terror links soon after he stole the 2000 Presidential Election and how Cheney staged a NORAD practice drill with hijacked jet airlines being rammed into civic targets on 9-10…
September 11th, 2006 at 4:11 pmCheers,
I am a personal friend to the director of this film, who I believe is actually not a republican, normally avoids Fox news and has nothing to to with the Religious Right…despite what most news stations and THIS WEBSITE have said.
I bring all that up for one reason. YOU REALLY ARE NOT GETTING THE FULL TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA, and this website is the most horrific of all.
I have never been on the “INSIDE” of a media storm before. But, now that I am, I have been amazed at the complete lack of truth and fact checking across the board. There is a little truth being reported with great bias. But, the number of blatant lies reported could fill up a sheet of paper. This website has carried and promoted them ALL.
I know you won’t believe me, but the people involved with this film really did TRY their best to get the facts right, in light of conflicting information. At least the director, I know, has NO political agenda.
They felt they were fair with the truth. THEY REALLY HAVE A HEART FOR AMERICA TO LEARN FROM ITS PAST. We all know Washington has many VERSIONS of truth. The people behind the film believe they have presented the most accurate version. They worked VERY hard to do so. And, they were genuinely SHOCKED at the response of the democratic party.
You have all just been vicitim to a democratic coup against ABC.
The Path to 9/11 is at the very least a legitimate version of what may have happened. I believe we should not turn a blind eye to ANY POSSIBLE mistakes we could have made. We should learn from them, not simply refuse to believe that they could ever have happened because our “party” stages a media storm.
Heck, people who DIDN’T see the film were writing articles and being interviewed left and right. It reminded me of Christians boycotting movies they’ve never seen. Let’s use our brains and discuss offenses rather than scream and yell and bias people’s thinking before they even turn on their TVs. Let us accept the fact that there is a group of legitimate experts and patriots who fear this IS what actually happened and don’t want to see it happen again.
You all have fallen for this democratic censorship hook, line and sinker. The GOVERNEMENT FORCED SENSORSHIP OF THE MEDIA. Hmmm… That’s scary. And we all cheered them on!
It’s a real shame. It’s a strong nation that can learn from its mistakes. It’s poor leadership that would go to such lengths to cover up the past, or be so afraid of critisism.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:11 pmOf course it was the Bush admin that blocked the commission, but all this attention to a dumb miniseries is useless, when there are far bigger 9/11 issues to focus on.
(btw sorry about repeating the post from the thread below, I thought that posting failed)
September 11th, 2006 at 4:12 pmRandom Rightie submits fully to King George. We obey you King George the II we obey you. Look up the word liberal you hate, fear, war mongering follower, it’s a pretty good word to aspire to. Now get out of here, and go spread some hate.
Ok, enough about this sheep, listen ya’ll, all branches of the government, the house, the senate, the executive, the courts all under one dict….uh, leader. The media, at least Faux news, and now ABC, mouthpieces for the governments’ propaganda. Religious zealots running the country, extreme nationalism, don’t speak out against the leader…We are a country being run by a fascist regime. How do you feel about it?
September 11th, 2006 at 4:13 pm“Random Rightie submits fully to King George. ”
I think there is a very good chance that 9/11 was an inside job, as you would have been able to deduce from my post(s) had you not been consumed by partisan hatred. I do not submit to the neocons.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:22 pmThis is exactly what I mean, the post above from “I fully submit”. You have believed ALL the lies being reported. The truth is not RIGHT or LEFT…it’s inbetween. It’s people who love this country who have a different opinion. We all need each other to steer the right course. I am neither republican or democrat and THIS is exactly why! How is it that Americans have become SO pompous to think that those who see life differently have no right to exist or speak???
Isn’t that what this censorship of ABC really was saying to America?
September 11th, 2006 at 4:22 pmLet’s focus on why and how the three buildings, 1, 2, and 7 fell straight to the ground at free fall speed on 9/11 shall we? The government (and at this point in U.S. history, Bush and his cronies are the government) would have us believe that the laws of physics were suspended on 9/11. I’m not buying it. Something else was afoot that day. We need to find out who is responsible, who was complicit, who was complacent. And punish them!
September 11th, 2006 at 4:27 pm1111u1100k 1101i1100k 1100h1110n1110y!!!
1010n1101 1111u1100h g1110org1110 1011ush!!
=8^P h1110h!
September 11th, 2006 at 4:28 pmComment by on the inside — September 11, 2006 @ 4:11 pm
Uh-huh. I hear what MAY have happened is that W wiped his ass with the Bin Laden PDB on August 6th while downing whiskey sours. Not that there’s any corroborating evidence, but hell- you gotta leave something for creative license, right?
Thanks for your psuedo-simpering contribution.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:32 pmHEY DIDN”T CYRUS NOWATRASH ALSO MAKE A MOVIE CALLED “10,000 MEN NAMED GEORGE?”
SOMETHING ABOUT BLACK MEN AND UNIONS??
HHAHAHHAHAHAAAAAA1110
September 11th, 2006 at 4:35 pmReading over the comments posted on this page, I’ve come to realize that I’ve wasted my breath. Being ON THE INSIDE OF THE MAKING OF THIS FILM. I KNOW there was no political agenda. I also know ABC had limited commercial breaks to try to honor the event of 9/11. They also made the film for the right reasons.
So, I’ve tried, as someone who actually does know the truth in this situation, to enlighten you consipracy theorists. But, I give up. You love consipiracy and hatred of Bush far more than you want to make America work.
You and this website are what is wrong with America. You are just as uninformed and willing to believe ANYTHING as the Rush-Limbau listening Republicans.
Truth is neither left or right.
I’m out.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:37 pmOn the inside,
Being that I am on the inside of your guts I know you are full of shit.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:46 pmTruth is neither left or right.
I’m out.
Comment by On the inside
SO WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING ABC TO USE YOUR WORK AS POLITICAL CLAPTRAP? AND BILLING IT AS TRUTH?
YOU SHOULD BE ANGRY THAT THEY HAVE USED YOUR WORK FOR SUCH POLITICAL HACKERY.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:47 pmYou love consipiracy and hatred of Bush far more than you want to make America work.
YOUR MOVIE HELPS TO PROMOTE THEORY
HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM CONSPIRACY THEORY?
September 11th, 2006 at 4:49 pmI’d still like someone to explain to me how killing bin Laden in 1998 or so would have prevented 9/11.
September 11th, 2006 at 5:01 pm#30 – 1011r10101101,
September 11th, 2006 at 5:02 pmBrAD, you must have lots of time on your hands. There was a time when I entered programs, a word at a time from a S/360 Model 50 engineering model using the colsole switches. That was 44 years ago, before IBM had a viable assembler ready.
The ABC airing of “Path to 9/11″ is most certainly not good for the country. The airing of admittedly incorrect and misleading information in the guise of “docudrama” that was “Path to 9/11″ rates ABC stations with license revocation. Television broadcasters gain license specifically earned without price except for public service/trust. This trust has been irrecvocably destroyed by ABC’s airing of “Path to 9/11.” The airing of this “docudrama” serves as example to any broadcaster that it is ok to change history, alter facts as long as the “docu” is accompanied by the word “drama.” But who knows how many people are now mislead forever by this distasteful “Path to 9/11,” people who may have prefered to watch the “docudrama” without bothering with the words and thoughts of news at the end of the broadcast. Which was more compelling to the viewer. That is what public trust is all about, understanding the power of broadcast to teach, to persuade, and that power is only earned with the spotless airing of truth when it is labeled as docu anything.
September 11th, 2006 at 5:13 pmNow ABC station should face license revocation.
It is shameful that events like these attacks should be so shoddily dramatized.
But the marketers and financiers of such endeavours know when deciding which products to place on the air that their viewing audience hasn’t the inclination, curiosity, or in many cases even the capacity to be discriminating enough to question the drivel placed in front of them. That public is ripe for such attacks on their intelligence.
Its also why we have George Bush as the bumbling figurehead for the hacks and operatives pulling his strings and leading the country down such a self-destructive path.
For those curious enough to consider:
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/9/emw434292.htm
September 11th, 2006 at 5:23 pmIts unfortunate that the only thing we have in common is that we love to bicker. For some reason the talking points are now the debates and not the real issues at hand. This is a bad time for America, a bad time to be an American.
I am no conspiracy theorist, but is anyone interested in the fact for the first time in the history of history 2 planes vaporized? And on the same day. Is anyone interested in the history of history the fact that three modern day skyscrapers fell from fire, also on the same day.
If your first thought was to think I am thinking conspiracy then I must be right….Or there is another answer for this that has a logical explanation. I know I would like to know.
This isn’t about left and right its about right and wrong.
Where’s the debate? Both political parties DO NOT represent the people of this country. These privacy policies and civil liberties that are not being recognized now will set precedence for years to come. I hope we get it right.
September 11th, 2006 at 6:07 pmIs he one of the many who is commenting on the movie without seeing it?
What’s next from the left nut jobs? Restaurant reviews without dining at the restaurants? rotf
September 11th, 2006 at 6:16 pmhey on the inside! Don’t go yet! since you’re on the inside, tell me how much Kean got for this.
Oh yeah, you’re full of shit too.
Now you can go.
September 11th, 2006 at 6:23 pmWell said Lee! I happened to be watching Kean’s reaction with his sheepish little grin. Does he agree with the wise words of his co-chair or not? If so, when will Kean come out and condemn this pathetic film?
September 11th, 2006 at 6:24 pmI got to meet Lee Hamilton in the 1980’s while we were fighting this same group over the Stars Wars debacle that we now have.
He was the cog who stopped Stars Wars back then. I think he was believeing in Tom Kean far too much. He is a Honorable man.
September 11th, 2006 at 6:29 pm“On the inside” reminds me of those who produced ‘Swift Boat Veterans for’ (I think those particular liars said ‘Truth’). They denied any connection with Karl Rove. Wink, wink.
Look – I never said the producer was a Republican and I really don’t care if he is registered with either party. What he produced was clearly a dishonest smear on the Clinton Administration. Now I bet we will not find any $$$ from Karl Rove to this fellow, but we didn’t find any $$$ from Karl Rove to the Swift Boat Liars eithers. Were they working at the bequest of Mr. Rove? You betcha. Now maybe “on the inside” could clue us in on the money trail from Rove’s office to the bank account of his good buddy.
September 11th, 2006 at 6:29 pmSo did Disney respond to Dr Dean? Who funded this lump of shit to the tune of $40 million
September 11th, 2006 at 6:30 pmWhen are the freaks on the right going to quit using “Bush hater” and “blind hatred” blah blah blah whenever someone tells the truth about the child king and the cult they follow?
Seriously, that kind of talk is used by cults so they can demean, ignore and hide from the truth their critics speak. I suggest you try to snap out of your cult mind controlled funk for you are enabling a movement which is taking our once great nation and the world to hell.
sick, really sick…
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060925/path_to_911
September 11th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
I agree with him on this topic because of the nature of this docu-drama but his statement is still dangerous. WHat about shows like the Daily SHow and Colbert Report that blur the line between news and fiction? We need to be careful what we wish for.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:16 pmYou’re right, at least our votes still count on TV.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:19 pmoh and get ready for the next talking point tomorrow…
September 11th, 2006 at 7:23 pmtonight’s the night they bring out the Wash. Post myth – it was actually the moonie Wash. TIMES that ran the story about how OBL uses cell phones and computers to communicate… but this storyline is there to promote the “need” to keep the public ignorant… to make the case for spying and removing civil rights…
“the child king and the cult they follow?”
I SAID I THOUGHT THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE HE WAS IN ON 9/11! That means that I do NOT “follow” him.
You people really are thick-headed. Reading left-wing blogs does that to a person I guess.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:41 pm>I am a personal friend to the director of this film
Ask you pal David what is like to have a Dad who pals around with genocide mavens like Rios Montt?
David L. Cunningham is the star of the The Film Project division of Youth with a Mission
I realize that a lot people don’t have any ethics about lying, but Cunningham was informed during the making of the film that he was shooting a script which clearly had no respect for the truth. But your friend is either an idiot, or a liar.
Maybe both.
And if you are smart, you won’t be dropping his name and expect people to believe you….Mr. Insider.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:45 pmI have watched Lee Hamilton for many years….and I trust his dedication to the TRUTH. Any credence I give to the 911 commision report is because of his name on it. I don’t know why he took so long to object to the OBVIOUS INACCURACIES in PT911…. but I trust that the Truth is the Truth, and will prevail in the end. That’s what the Blogs are for.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:31 pmKean has to be the big disappointment of 2006. They should have appointed Warren Rudman instead.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:17 pmWhere were you last week when we needed you, Lee? Thanks for nothing.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:47 pmHey, on the inside, what flavor’s the Kool-Aid today?
Either put up or shut up dude. Identify yourself, prove your connections to the film, or stop wasting our time.
(Oh, and by the way, I’m a Personal Friend of Bill Clinton and I Know “The Path to 9/11″ Is Full of Lies! So, There!!)
September 11th, 2006 at 9:49 pmOT – sorry – but related.
American Airlines is outraged at the way it is portrayed in the film.
Keith Olbermann was fantastic tonight — he said everything we’ve said and better.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:51 pmCatch the replay at 11pm central time – the essay comes on in the last ten minutes or so.
It’s worth staying up for. I am going to watch it again.
Hamilton is a little late to the party isn’t he?
As for ABC, it will be harder not to watch it than it is to avoid Fox, but I will certainly think twice before I ever watch ABC or Disney again.
September 11th, 2006 at 9:53 pmTraitors. Revisionists. Pimps and prostitutes.
I won’t be watching ABC again. If I want right wing propaganda there is always FOX “news”.
September 11th, 2006 at 10:24 pmWell, I just watched Part two of “The Lies in the Path to 9/11″ and they didn’t show Bush getting the infamous Aug. 6 PDB, just Condi reading it and then a month later (9/4) tell the FIRST Bush admin counter terrorism meeting that the “President takes this threat very seriously.”
September 11th, 2006 at 10:51 pmThey don’t show Bush being told by Card “Sir, the country is under attack” at Booker Elem. and then the famous “deer in the headlights” look that seemed to go on forever.
This show was a piece of election propaganda trash.
I’ll bet what also wasn’t included was John Ashcroft saying he did not want to hear anymore about terrorism when FBI Chief Thomas Pickard tried to brief him during the summer of 2001.
September 11th, 2006 at 11:21 pm[...] Lee Hamilton: “The Path to 9/11″ is not good for the country. [...]
September 12th, 2006 at 11:47 amon the inside wrote:
I am a personal friend to the director of this film, who I believe is actually not a republican, normally avoids Fox news and has nothing to to with the Religious Right…despite what most news stations and THIS WEBSITE have said.
please explain, then, Cunningham’s involvement with “The Film Project” and “Youth With a Mission”….
You can claim that Cunningham has “nothing to do with the Religious Right”, but unless you can cite where Cunningham’s involvement with these Religious Right projects is false, then you’re just blowing smoke.
The fact is that Cunningham’s DIRECTION of the program showed clear political biases — (one example… the scene where O’Neil is reading the article in the New York Times about him. Cunningham makes sure that we see that its the Times with a shot that focusses on the paper’s masthead — and distorts history to imply that the publication of the article played a role in O’Neil’s decision to resign. But by the time the piece was published, O’Neil has already given the FBI his resignation — his last day at the bureau was three days after the NYT piece appeared — and accepted the job at the WTC.) The film was full of such subtle and not so subtle advancement of right-wing talking points (that 9-11 happened because of the “liberal media”, “political correctness”, and the refusal to engage in “ethnic profiling”) and its abundantly clear that Cunningham was intimately involved in making sure that those talking points came through loud and clear.
September 12th, 2006 at 11:54 am[...] read more | digg story Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: . [...]
September 12th, 2006 at 12:12 pmI did not vote for Bush in the first election, and I thought for sure that people would see him for what he really is. But no, voters went out and voted him in a SECOND time, as if they needed 4 more years of this dribble to find out who’s actually running the country (hint: not George).
September 12th, 2006 at 12:18 pmFor those of you who voted for this guy, you deserve everything that happens. Good luck
MISINFORMATION IS NOT ENTERTAINMENT.
…one more time…
MISINFORMATION IS NOT ENTERTAINMENT.
September 12th, 2006 at 1:12 pmI enjoy watching the hypocritical LEFT call for censorship – the propagandists here at TP should be quite proud!!! The Aphrodite household was split – Mr. Aphrodite watched football, like all red-blooded American men and I watched Path to 9/11. I’m surprised progressives did not appreciate the different approaches the film illustrated. Progs wish to wait for the attack, count the bodies and then prosecute the perps – conservatives want to kill the perps before they kill us. It’s fairly simple…..
September 12th, 2006 at 1:12 pmRE:67 As a conservative Republican (Boy, I’ve had to repeat that about a thousand times this week), I too did not vote for Bush the first time. However I did the second time (I know, I know, I’m an a-hole). My reasons though had nothing to do with this war and more to do with VietNam. My father served in the Army at the same time as Kerry and remembers him well (only because his helicopter unit has to save Kerry’s sorry ass several times). He was remembered by many others, my father included, for being a child killer. You will probably never read about anything like that, because those guys don’t talk about that stuff. Sometimes killing kids added to their “confirmed-kill” count for the day, and no one wanted less than one, it just wasn’t macho. But, from what I hear, he (Kerry) and others in his unit killed kids like it was some sort of trophy. And when he got home he testified only to being a witness to these crimes. Now I can’t say that I’m 100% sure that any of this happened, but I do know that my dad has never been caught lying to me before, and friends of his from the same unit, corroborated the story.
September 12th, 2006 at 1:14 pmThat being said, G.W. Bush sent me overseas with the expectation that I too would kill people. And I went, just as I was ordered. Tell me this, anyone please, Where does this leave guys like me? I had to choose between a murderer and a murderer. A child-killer and someone who wants to make killers out of our young American soldiers.
I can tell you for sure that there are thousands of good Americans out here who cannot choose the lesser of two evils like that. I, like many others, hold my religous beliefs dearly. And I believed that a guy like Bush would stand up for those beliefs… then he keeps starting wars. I’m caught in the middle because of what I believe. And I’m depending on America to change things, one way or another, because we can’t keep killing people, especially our own.
In reference to your last sentence Mr. Pasco, you’re right… I do deserve everything that I get. And I’m gonna need more than luck…
I can’t believe that the election 2000 tantrum has lasted this long. Conspiracy theories and calling people whose opinions differ from your own various names for stupid will not put a Democrat in the White House. Oh, and neither will form letters disguised as personal opinion emails.
September 12th, 2006 at 1:59 pmIn anycase, I’m sure enemies of the US, from around the world, are more than greatful for your disruption of the efforts of the most tenacious enemy they have ever had since their campaign began: You have flung widly all the accusations that you could muster to destroy Bush’s crediblity, domesticly and amongst current and potential allies around the world; you have used your global propaganda machine to reach corners of the earth that they never dreamed of accessing; you have done everything to secure their prisoners of war rights under the US constitution; and you work tirelessly to restore the party of least resistance, the democrats. They probably hope that you could do more to end the unlawful surveillance programs and to put an end to secret prisons ;-)
Re: No. 69: Good Lord, MA, where have you been?! You’ve missed at least a week of this fun ‘n games!
Seriously, though, as a Sister at the Bar, tell us, oh Mighty One, where is the “censorship” here?
September 12th, 2006 at 2:19 pmCoachjason, I’ve posted a lot of sarcastic comments before … but this is not one of them.
Having never served, I can’t put myself in your shoes. Still, I don’t think you can blame yourself for anything that has happened in Iraq. I know it’s easy for me to say, but soldiers and marines really can’t opt out of an entire war or campaign unless they meet the strict definition of a consciencious objector … no mean feat in wartime. Once you are in the service, you have to follow any lawful order, and even if the war itself is of questionable legality (and I think it is), simply showing up when deployed does NOT constitute following an “illegal order.” From all you’ve posted on this site, I am confident that you did not do anything illegal or follow illegal orders. I know, that doesn’t really solve the deeper issues – but I hope you know those of us at home, including most progressives, do not blame you or your fellow troops for the bad decision-making of the President and his administration.
As I’ve probably mentioned too often, my dad saw combat in France in WWII. He was fortunate that he did not get sent into the Battle of the Bulge, but that’s only because his convoy was struck by u-boats crossing the English Channel on Dec. 24, 1944, and one of the 2 troop ships, the S.S. Leopoldville, sank, killing over 800 U.S. Army Infantry soldiers. (My dad was in the 60th ID, the Panther Division, 262nd Regiment; most of the dead were, I think, from the 261st.) So, my dad’s first taste of warfare consisted of pulling dead bodies out of the English Channel on Christmas Day, 1945. And, after that, because the 261st and the 262nd were so decimated, his regiment was deployed around Cherbourg, France, mopping up the remaining German forces, through VE Day. In any event, he rarely would talk to us about his combat experiences … it was just too painful, too unpleasant to relive. I’m sure he never doubted the cause, but I don’t think he ever came to terms with being in combat.
Not sure why I went off on this tangent, Coach, but I just want to say that you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of in my eyes. To the contrary, I can’t help but feel that Bush violated the sacred trust that YOU put in HIM, to send you into harms way only when the cause was justified, clear and free from doubt. Bush is the one who needs to do some serious penance; not you or anyone else who served honorably.
September 12th, 2006 at 2:36 pmmy my my what the media will do to make sure the party of lies and corruption stays in power In case you don’t know Bush did not win a second election he stole it too His buddies in ohio made sure he stole it this time around Hey ABC how come you left out the part about your King George setting in the classroom when he was briefed about what was going on you are just like your buddies in the Lie House in Washington DC you don’t want people to know the truth about 911 do you?
September 12th, 2006 at 2:50 pmDave Von Ebers,
September 12th, 2006 at 2:52 pmThe single most valuable lesson I’ve learned from my father is “NEVER TRUST YOUR GOVERNMENT”. My hope, and it’s nothing more than a hope, is that something somewhere lets what we did in Iraq be justified. I’m sure that’s where I’ll always differ with the “hard-core” liberals. I watched my dad spend most of my life trying to deal with what he had to do in Vietnam. To this day, he has yet to come to full terms. My experience was not as dramatic as his, though my unit took on HEAVY casualties. He (my dad) was a hero, I am not. the point I was getting to is that his generation has yet to be able to rationalize their war. Thousands of American and Vietnamese dead for no reason. I cannot let this war suffer the same fate, though it’s getting close. I cannot let my son(s) watch me go through what I had to watch my dad go through. I cannot let this war succumb to being another Vietnam. It’ll ruin many of us who can still talk about it. I’m sorry I feel this way, like I said I’m caught in the middle. Talk about a quagmire…
But Dave, I thank you for listening to my rant.. as I read yours, I can feel the pride you have in your father, as I have in mine… and thanks for reading my rants, I hate to quote Sean Hannity but Dave… “you are a great American”…
Re: 74 John Clonch, as much as I would like to agree with you on the “stolen Ohio election”… I live here (in Ohio) and I can tell you honestly that you’ve heard many many exaggerations. I could argue about it with you til we’re both blue in the face, it would do no good. Just believe me when I say “don’t believe everything you read”.
September 12th, 2006 at 2:55 pmcoachjason
I personally believe it is time for America to throw the two largest parties out. It is time for an end to the Republicans AND the Democrats, because 1 is so corrupt that it is willing to enter wars as a party agenda, and the other is too weak willed to stand for itself, and too cowardly to put forward its strongest candidate (Feingold.)
The Democrats have aligned themselves with the Jack Chick sect through Hillary Clinton, who still supports the war. The Republicans have gone too far, the Democrats have not gone far enough, it is time for both to get the boot.
The only reason to vote Democrat in the midterms, unless you have a representative like Murtha or Feingold running, is the hope that the Democrats, with sufficient support, may impeach Bush. Bush has up until now ignored any law which has proven inconvenient to his aims, anything less then impeachment and criminal hearings will continue to be ignored. It is no solution to simply change the laws to render the president above them, those laws need to be enforced. Unfortunately, Nancy Pelosi has stated that the Democrats will not seek to impeach the president.
The Republicans have to go, make no mistake, and it isn’t just on the grounds of their policies, but it is also on the grounds of provable corruption within their ranks. K Street was no bipartisan scandal, the whole point to the formation of K Street was to destroy the Democrats as a party, so they weren’t about to help any Democrats out with a bribe.
It is time for the true left, and the true right to stage this revolution. There two kinds of conservatives. Those who believe in minimalist government that helps the poor but does not coddle them, that enforce the law whoever breaks it, that believes in equality not as a word, but as the truth. These will argue for lower taxes, but not for greater deficits. They will argue for a strong military but not for the irresponsible use of it. They will argue against affirmative action, but equally against its opposite.
Then there those who scream Christianity while trampling everything their Christian faith is supposed to mean. They will spread hatred, and accuse others of doing so, and they will call it love. They will scream “America First” while justifying their own destruction of what America means. They will stand for hatred, fear, and irresponsibility. They call themselves neocons, but there is nothing new, nor even conservative in what they preach.
The former is a dying breed, the latter, is all too common. You need a real conservative party in America, not the collection of Neo-conservative parties you have now. Until the day comes when you can vote for a real conservative, vote for a real liberal, vote independent.
September 12th, 2006 at 3:11 pmI guess every election will be considered stolen until the Democrats finally win one.
September 12th, 2006 at 3:17 pmP.S. coachjason.
You did your duty, you did what you had to do, and there is a great deal of respect in that. Know that I for one hold nothing against you for having served, indeed I honour you for that. It took courage to do it, to put your money where your mouth was an enlist, it took real strength to do it, to stand up and fight back any fear you felt.
Iraq is not a stain upon you, but rather upon those who used you. Liberals do not blame soldiers, for politicians’ dirty wars.
September 12th, 2006 at 3:24 pmCoachjason … thank you, brother. (Even if it was a quote from Hannity.)
Sounds like you will do an excellent job teaching your kids the lessons you learned. Even though my dad rarely talked about the war (much to my dismay!), I learned a lot from his experiences. I think he also used those experiences to motivate him to get involved in the community and to be socially conscious and aware. When my folks moved to the Chicago suburbs, they got heavily involved in the civil rights movement, the open housing movement, working to integrate the schools, etc. I still live in the town I grew up in, and it is one of the most diverse towns in America. My dad passed 12 years ago, but every day I see his legacy when I take my kids to school or walk around the neighborhood.
Anyway, sorry for yet another digression, but I think that type of involvement was very therapeutic for my dad …
September 12th, 2006 at 3:26 pmBruce and Dave,
September 12th, 2006 at 3:48 pmOne thing that also stands out in my mind is that it took several beers before my dad would even bring up the word “army” or “Vietnam”. It sucks because they (his generation) had so much to teach us… we just haven’t listened. You know, if there were more guys like us working in congress, by that I mean working together, imagine what a great country this would be. Bruce, your description of a true Neocon I think would also fit liberals and most of middle America too. I see it as common sense. Don’t tax, don’t spend. Defend this country and it’s borders responsibly. Help the poor and helpless, not just because God says so, but because it’s the right thing to do. Believe in human beings, because of their colors not in spite of it. And enforcement of laws despite the lawbreaker. Looks like our forefathers were pretty bright guys. I believe that’s the America they envisioned. I believe most Americans still believe in it today… we just get bogged down in “right-wing” and “left-wing”. Why isn’t there a “human-wing”?
I guess humanity has no place in politics.
I saw a bumpersticker the other day that said “when it comes to human-kind… be both” I thank you guys for having some semblance of humanity. You don’t get caught up in neocons and ultra libs, you’re like me and want the truth. I guess I was right.. when you get past the name calling across the aisles, the middle is a good place to be. Glad you guys are here with me.
I’d love to talk some more tonight but my wife just found out that her grandfather passed this morning… so until we meet again… Adios brothers.
My condolences, Coach. Be well.
September 12th, 2006 at 3:50 pmHamba kahle coachjason, my condolences too.
September 12th, 2006 at 3:56 pmHow was this movie a partisan film. Republicans got criticized as much as
September 12th, 2006 at 5:39 pmDemocrats. What amazes it me is how many people are talking about this movie didn’t even see it. IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THIS MOVIE THEN PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT ON IT.
Where was your outrage at the Reagan movie or any of Michael Moore’s fictional documentaries? Though Moore does have some good moment….
You bunch of whiners always holler censorship if Christians boycott a movie but you all DEMAND that ABC pull it because it makes Sandy “Light Fingers” Berger and Mimbo CLinton look bad. Of course it makes them look bad; they were.
And I absolutely cannot stand W and think he is most likely the worst president ever. You bunch of whining pansies! This may be slanted and Fox News is slanted but so is NBC, CBS and PBS and have been for 50 years.
September 12th, 2006 at 5:55 pmNow we know why Berger stole documents about it.
September 12th, 2006 at 6:07 pmI disagree with the guy. I knew as everyone knew who was watching that this was a dramatization. This movie never the less helped me to better see that NOT all Muslims are extremists and for that matter NOT all Christians are extremists either. The commentary on the news after the movie was especially helpfull. We were invited into the home of some very wonderful Muslims who helped our eyes become open to the fact that the mainstreem muslims are afraid to speak out for fear of their lives.
September 12th, 2006 at 6:22 pm“On the inside” tried to defend the producers of this garbage, and in doing so pointed out the very probelm. S/he described it as “a legitimate version of what may have happened.” Get it? MAY have happened; legitimate VERSION. In doing so they added lies and distortions to smear President Clinton and the Democrats, and claimed “creative license.” What a crock. I watched part of this until I couldn’t stand it any longer. It was nothing but a lousy piece of right-wing Republican propaganda.
Also, mighty aphrodite has it all wrong. No one wants to wait for an attack. Anti-Iraq war opponents just want a different approach since the fiasco in Iraq has so far only resulted in alienating our allies; so enraged the Arab world that the terrorists are experiencing a recruiting bonus; Iraq is full of terrorists but had none based there before the attack; and has allowed the Taliban to regroup and come back stronger than ever. I don’t think that does much to protect America.
September 12th, 2006 at 6:31 pm[...] I felt brainwashed after viewing this dizzying film. I’m not gonna lie. I almost believed it happened this way. If you were a infant when 9/11 happened, and later on in life, say in history/social studies class, you are made (read: forced) to view a film depicted as THE de facto historic film that presents the events of 9/11 as THE truth… watch it. You might enjoy it. You might feel like making movies or something. Either that or going out and joining the military. But before going out and joining the military and making a bunch of films with as much “mind bending visuals”, check out a little indy film called Loose Change 2nd Edition. It raises a lot of questions. This movie isn’t the first either. There are many films like Loose Change that analyzes the inconsistencies that were reported by the mainstream media folks. [...]
September 12th, 2006 at 8:26 pm1. Wow….I did not see this show, but did hear that there was some hype surrounding it!
September 12th, 2006 at 8:34 pmI think what shocks me most is that “The Terrorist†are winning, they have taken the division in this country and divided it even more, they don’t have to tear us down economically they are doing it socially, “Brother against Brotherâ€
What happened to America?
or a better question is……
What can be done to heal America?
Someone has come in and divided it and it wasn’t Bush and it wasn’t Clinton…..
Wow, read the posts and the HATRED!
A little cliche I know…..but, “A Country divided cannot stand!â€
So I guess we should just all pack up and let Islam and it’s great hate for anyone not like them just move in, let them take over and if you are not like them (watch out)…….
This is one person who is SAD at what you all have perpetuated……..
The solution to this is not Bush and it isn’t John Kerry or Al Gore, it’s much deeper than that…it’s US! Yes you and me getting rid of the politics and coming together as one NATION or they will have already defeated us!
Conratulations!
Drifter
What is it with some of you Republicans? You act like such victims, when something doesn’t go your way for your ‘team’, you blame it on a liberal conspiracy. You have such a one-sided mentality that your fave politicians can do no wrong. Sounds like followers of Bin Laden or pick your favorite dictator. Sheesh.
September 12th, 2006 at 9:32 pm#50, there is a clear distinction between parody/satire and propagandized, fictionalized docu-dramas. The legitimacy of the former has been affirmed in multiple court decisions. The former also require the audience to have some background or basic knowledge of the material behind the parody in order for it to have the intended comedic effect, by and large. Documentaries, on the other hand, do not require such up front base knowledge. The lesser informed audience in this case is in fact more vulnerabe to accepting misinformation as fact and less able to critically examine propagandist material.
Your point of caution on the subject of censorship is well taken nonetheless.
September 13th, 2006 at 1:16 amInstead of arguing about the semantics of propaganda, why not address the actual grievances. Did US government agencies under Clinton recognize the threat that Bin Laden posed? Yes. Did they discover that Bin Laden and al Qaeda were the best funded islamic terrorist group in the world? Yes. Did they discover that his group and others that he funded previously attacked the WTC, US embassies and the US Cole? Yes. Did the Clinton administration have at least three separate chances to kill Bin Laden? Yes. Clinton himself admitted it.
Listen to this: http://newsmax.com/audio/BILLVH.mp3
The Path to 911 is equally damning of the Bush administration. I’m no less upset with the current administration than the last. I DO, however, believe that democratric opposition to this movie has been heavy-handed and unfair. It did an excellent job of showing the long term hatred of the US that our enemies possess. It did an excellent job of showing the true muslim allies that fought with us behind the scenes. And it did an excellent job of condemning those in both administrations for their inaction and lack of forsight.
September 13th, 2006 at 4:33 amEd (No. 93) – When you say, “The Path to 911 is equally damning of the Bush administration,” I presume you’re referring to the scene where Bush takes the Aug. 6, 2001 PDB (ya know, th’ famous bin Laden determined to strike inside U.S. PDB) and said somethin’ like “I’m tired of takin’ the passive approach,” or “I wanna strike back at these evil f–ks,” or words to that effect.
Yeah, that was pretty damning awright. A-and fabricated, too!
September 13th, 2006 at 8:49 pmMy local ABC affiliate said that there were no commercials during their showing of the 9-11 propagandrama. I had asked them for sponsors so I could write to each one.
If there weren’t commercials, who was the sponsor? ABC corporate? The Republican Party? Monsanto? PBS? You don’t give away umpteen free hours on broadcast TV.
Curious folks want to know.
September 14th, 2006 at 7:47 am#70 by coachjason:
I’m curious, is this smear of Kerry left over from the last election or looking forward to the next? Why can’t you guys get over him? I understand demonizing Carter and Clinton, you can’t hold Reagan or Bush or Bush responsible for anything, but Kerry just isn’t worth it.
September 14th, 2006 at 2:04 pm911 commission did report that Saddam had links to Terrorism or did you guys even read it?
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