What folks who are evaluating Dr. Rice's performance are ignoring is that her testimony is just the beginning of this exercise.
Now the factchecking begins. Obvious points that will be covered.
The August 6, 2001 PDB - The Commission has already called for declassification. This one will be a war and I don't think BushCo will give in very easily if at all. First, without knowing the contents, the title is political poison - whatever it says - the headline willl be the headline. Plus there is sure to be some significant unformation there damaging to Bush.
Who asked for the PDB? I'm no expert, but it seems to me a PDB isn't asked for, it is provided daily, hence Daily Briefing. Someone who knows more on this could explain.
Did Clarke ask for a meeting with the President? Frankly who cares, but given that Clarke has been accused of fetishizing meetings and being miffed by being relegated to non-prinicpal meetings, this seems counterintuitive to the White House smear machine.
What specific actions was BushCo taking during the summer of "hair on fire"? I have not read the transcript of the Rice appearance and don't know if this was put to her. But there must be a record of something - action or inaction.
What is in the January 25, 2001 Clarke memo?
What is in the September 4, 2001 action plan?
And Rice is now on the record. Clarke went through this and BushCo could only fa ke it as they had no real ammunition. I'm fairly sure Rice willbe caught in a number of lies.