The Man Who "Broke" The Sandy Berger Story

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Bill Sammon is senior White House correspondent for the Washington Examiner (having left the same position at The Washington Times in February 2006), a political analyst for Fox News Channel, and the author of four New York Times bestsellers: At Any Cost: How Al Gore Tried to Steal the Election; Fighting Back: The War on Terrorism from Inside the White House; Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, Media Bias and the Bush Haters; and Strategery: How George W. Bush Is Defeating Terrorists, Outwitting Democrats, and Confounding the Mainstream Media. He is a frequent guest on shows like Special Report with Brit Hume, Fox News Sunday and Hannity & Colmes.

A graduate of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Bill lives in Maryland with his wife Becky and their five children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Sammon

[hedgehog]

1. Still, it is an odd story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Berger


Even if he only removed copies, why is he still moving in high circles?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. Sandy Berger Is An Idiot

What he did sounds like a crime to me, a misdemeanor, and that's how it was treated...

The most inflammatory charge was that he took the original documents that inculpated the Clinton administration as being lax in the fight against terrorism. That has been refuted...

The charge that he is an adviser to the Clinton campaign and has a formal role has also been refuted...

[HeraldSquare212]

28. But I don't see why having an informal role means it's a non-issue

[HeraldSquare212]

29. but having said that,

I always thought his alleged (and admitted, right?) transgressions were a non-story - a bit weird, a bit stupid, even, but more a head-scratcher than a hanging offense.

[MethuenProgressive]

2. "Berger only removed classified copies of data stored on hard drives stored in the Nat Archives."

Big whoop.

[ncabot22]

5. So if Condi Rice

or some other repuke did what Sandy Berger did, you wouldn't complain?

[MethuenProgressive]

6. If somebody with clearance to read them made copies then destroyed them?

Big whoop.

[ncabot22]

8. Nice to know

that is the kind of person you are. I think it is wrong to steal anything from any archive to destroy them, whether they are copies of classified materials or not.

And something tells me if any repuke did this, you'd be the first one to complain. Nice to see your morals and judgement are flexible when it comes to politics.

[MethuenProgressive]

12. Nothing is missing. Everything that was in the archives is still there.

But it's nice to know what kind of person you are.
You know, the kind who invents his/her own reality, and then gets upset with how things "are"...
Enjoy ignore.

[ncabot22]

13. Ignore me if you must

but theft is theft. If I go into a bookstore a steal a book, it doesn't matter if there are copies left--I still stole something.

After the past 8 years, you would think people would want a cleaner government. If this story is true, then Hillary's campaign is a bit lacking in judgement.

I would never excuse or blindly look away from a candidate I supported if he or she hired someone who committed a crime. It would make me question their judgement. Hillary isn't a stupid woman. If Berger is advising the campaign, unpaid or not, it says a lot about her judgement.

As I said earlier, keep him as a friend but keep him away from your campaign. If she gets the nod in the democratic primary, you can bet this will be red meat for the repukes.

[MADem]

22. Did he make the copies, or did he remove the "working copies" provided by the

Archives? That's flat theft, the latter supposition.

Here's my problem with what he did--anyone with clearance and access knows, or should know, that you don't do that. He violated basic classified material control policy, by failing to safeguard the materials OR account for them appropriately. You sign them out, you carry them in a proper fashion, and you seal them in an appropriate safe that is adequate to contain them securely.

That's a CAREER ENDER in the military, what he did. I've seen otherwise good kids fall by the wayside for similar shoddiness. It's just something that isn't tolerated. At his paygrade and level of government service, he knew better.

And I'm not a member of the 'two wrongs make a right' club, either. I really think the shenanigans with the Roberts papers at the Reagan library need to be carefully investigated. There's a stink about that business, too....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. No...And He's Not An Adviser Either...That's Why This Story Will Die On The Vine

Did he make the copies, or did he remove the "working copies" provided by the Archives? That's flat theft, the latter supposition. "

No, ergo:



Some people won't let a bad conspiracy theory go. We're referring to those who loudly assert that former NSC adviser Sandy Berger was trying to protect the Clinton Administration when he illegally removed copies of sensitive documents from the National Archives in late 2003.

On Wednesday, we quoted Justice Department prosecutor Noel Hillman that no original documents were destroyed, and that the contents of all five at issue still exist and were made available to the 9/11 Commission. But that point didn't register with some readers, who continue to suggest a vast, well, apparently a vast left- and right-wing conspiracy. The Washington Times, the Rocky Mountain News and former Clintonite Dick Morris have also been peddling dark suspicions based on misinformation.

The confusion seems to stem from the mistaken idea that there were handwritten notes by various Clinton Administration officials in the margins of these documents, which Mr. Berger may have been able to destroy. But that's simply an "urban myth," prosecutor Hillman tells us, based on a leak last July that was "so inaccurate as to be laughable." In fact, the five iterations of the anti-terror "after-action" report at issue in the case were printed out from a hard drive at the Archives and have no notations at all.

"Those documents, emphatically, without doubt--I reviewed them myself--don't have notations on them," Mr. Hillman tells us. Further, "there is no evidence after comprehensive investigation to suggest he took anything other than the five documents at issue and they didn't have notes." Mr. Berger's sentencing is scheduled for July, and Mr. Hillman assures us Justice's sentencing memo will lay out the facts and "make sure Mr. Berger explains what he did and why he did it." Meanwhile, conservatives don't do themselves any credit when they are as impervious to facts as the loony left.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110006534


He's an idiot... What he did, seems to me to have been a misdeameanor, and that's how it was ajudicated...The fine, the probation, and the shaming seems like an appropriate punishment

[ncabot22]

26. HRC did say he wasn't an OFFICIAL advisor

Remember--most, if not all, polticians of all stripes parse their words very carefully. I wouldn't be surprised if he is an unoffical advisor to the campaign.

That being said, I totally agree with your assessment re: Sandy Berger. He's an idiot. At first I thought you said shunning rather than shaming. hehe. D'oh.

[MADem]

31. I am still unclear.

I understand that 'no original documents were destroyed.' I'm not even worried about notations.

He did have copies, though. I still don't know if he made them, was permitted to make them and take them, or if the Archives made them for him to use, and expected him to hand them back in so they could shred them or whatever.

And if the original is classified, so are the copies. My question has to do with how those copies were handled. If he mishandled them, and apparently he did, that's a no-no.

I frankly think that anyone who dredges this shit up anew with a goal of somehow re-smearing the Senator with old shit from her HUSBAND's administration is fishing pathetically for an issue of no importance. It suggests flopsweat desperation, and it's lame and old.

So, to be clear: Berger mishandled classified material and I don't like that.

What it has to do with Hillary Clinton, who was the First Lady when Berger was working for the White House, is absolutely ZERO, ZIP, and NADA--unless Hillary was given a lifetime appointment as the Guardian of the Clinton Papers at the National Archives by her husband...and we know that ain't the case.

[Hangingon]

25. He still stole classified documents.

Apparently he was unaware they were copies. Other copies of the documents existed and he left these copies - apparently the ones he took contained annotations. The "Big Whoop" here would cost any other researcher his research rights. Berger is dangerous and dishonest - any thoughtful candidate would not want the guy around

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. They Did Not Contain Annotations:

Some people won't let a bad conspiracy theory go. We're referring to those who loudly assert that former NSC adviser Sandy Berger was trying to protect the Clinton Administration when he illegally removed copies of sensitive documents from the National Archives in late 2003.

On Wednesday, we quoted Justice Department prosecutor Noel Hillman that no original documents were destroyed, and that the contents of all five at issue still exist and were made available to the 9/11 Commission. But that point didn't register with some readers, who continue to suggest a vast, well, apparently a vast left- and right-wing conspiracy. The Washington Times, the Rocky Mountain News and former Clintonite Dick Morris have also been peddling dark suspicions based on misinformation.

The confusion seems to stem from the mistaken idea that there were handwritten notes by various Clinton Administration officials in the margins of these documents, which Mr. Berger may have been able to destroy. But that's simply an "urban myth," prosecutor Hillman tells us, based on a leak last July that was "so inaccurate as to be laughable." In fact, the five iterations of the anti-terror "after-action" report at issue in the case were printed out from a hard drive at the Archives and have no notations at all.

"Those documents, emphatically, without doubt--I reviewed them myself--don't have notations on them," Mr. Hillman tells us. Further, "there is no evidence after comprehensive investigation to suggest he took anything other than the five documents at issue and they didn't have notes." Mr. Berger's sentencing is scheduled for July, and Mr. Hillman assures us Justice's sentencing memo will lay out the facts and "make sure Mr. Berger explains what he did and why he did it." Meanwhile, conservatives don't do themselves any credit when they are as impervious to facts as the loony left.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110006534

[Hangingon]

35. Absolutely I won't let this one go.

I fuloly understand that no originals were taken. Yet he took copies of a document from a file that contained other copies of thedocument. The National Archives does not retain copies (duplicates) unless there is a reason - i.e. annotations or indications that thsoe documents were sent/read by someone. The guy is a liar and a crook.

[ncabot22]

3. My understanding is

that HRC's campaign has confirmed he is an unpaid advisor (MSNBC had the story). Even if this is the guy that broke the story, it doesn't take away from the fact that it appears to be true.

You can't defend the indefensible no matter who does it. If Kucinich was stupid enough to have someone work on his campaign who plead guilty to the same charges as SB, I'd be outraged.

[DURHAM D]

14. Are you a U.S. citizen? n/t

[ncabot22]

15. Why does that matter?

Are non-US citizens not allowed to post? No, I'm Canadian. Thus, in a sense, your election does affect me and other Canadians because we have to live with your choice.

[DURHAM D]

18. Thank you for your response. n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. I Might As Well Put It In Here...

At the end of an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton a short while ago, USA TODAY's Susan Page inquired about reports that former Clinton administration national security adviser Sandy Berger is advising her.

Susan asked whether Clinton has any qualms about having Berger as an unofficial adviser to her campaign, given his mishandling of sensitive, classified intelligence documents in 2003?

"He has no official role in my campaign. He's been a friend for more than 30 years. But he doesn't have any official role," Clinton said.

But he's an unofficial adviser, Susan asked?

"I have thousands of unofficial advisers," said Clinton, "and, you know, I appreciate all of that. But he has no official role in my campaign."

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/10/sen-clinton-san.html

[ncabot22]

17. PS

I really do like Kucinich, by the way. If I could vote, I'd vote for him. I think he's the most progressive of the bunch. :)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. His Prospects Are Not Very Promising

That was an empirical observation and not a normative claim.

[ncabot22]

20. I know

But, in my humble opinion, he has the best platform out of all the candidates. Maybe I'm just a silly progressive at heart but I'd love for you Americans to have universal health care and not ever have to deal with insurance companies again.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. I Love Canada

I have a transgendered female friend who married her partner there, something I might not see here in my lifetime... But we are a fundamentally different people than our northern neighbors...


My priorities are currently more modest; beating Republicans...

[pretzel4gore]

7. he's armed and dangerous ...approach with caution

bill sammon. successful bushevik agent...

[Cameron27]

9. Never trust anything this guy says

without verification from a better source.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. Lots Of Innuendo... Very Little Facts..

Berger is not on the payroll... He's not on their official campaign literature...He offers advice...No shit... He was the former National Security Advisor... He never stole original documents to alter history and "exonerate" the Clinton administration for laxity in the war on terror...

But he's an idiot...It was clearly a crime, a misdemeanor, what he did, and was adjudicated as such...

[baldguy]

10. When a Dem commits a crime - even a minor infraction like this

Its treated like another OJ Simpson murder trial - all hype all the time & the Republic will fall & America will succumb to the Forces of Darkness if Sandy Berger makes a few copies.

When a Reptile commits a crime - up to and including grand theft & murder - the Bush Regime gives him a medal * promotes him, all the while offering distractions to the weak minded sheeple. Never mind that VP Cheney is acting as a lobbyist for a hostile foreign govt. Or that hundreds of billions of dollars have been lost down the rat-hole of Iraq. The important thing is that Britney lost custody of her children!

[AtomicKitten]

24. Sammon went after Al Gore as well during the 2000 election.

The most famous perhaps is the "Damgate."

http://www.google.com/custom?q=gore+bill+sammon+river+&sa=Google+Search&cof=AH%3Acenter%3BAWFID%3Ac32a032061318778%3B&domains=dailyhowler.com&sitesearch=dailyhowler.com

[scoobiedavis]

32. Bill Sammon has a history of journalistic misconduct

Fortunately for Sammon, he was working at the Sun Myung Moon owned Washington Times where ethics are not held in high regard. The Daily Howler caught Sammon's misconduct: http://www.dailyhowler.com/h061801_1.shtml

I summarized it here: http://www.americanpolitics.com/20030310foxwatch.html

[AtomicKitten]

33. good analysis

:thumbsup:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. Ha Ha Ha Ha

The genesis of this non-story was an article in Newsweek about what a Clinton administration would like ... It was called "How She Would Decide"... I think the author was Emil Hirsch... In the article Hirsch discussed Hillary's foreign policy and the influences on it... In passing he wrote she discusses foreign policy with foreign policy intellectuals like Madeline Albright and Sandy Berger...

From that Bill "I wrote a book that claimed Gore stole the 00 election" Sammon wrote an article suggesting Sandy Berger has some formal role in the campaign; pulp fiction for Clinton haters...

[rucky]

34. The Berger thing should be easy enough to confirm...

if true. Either she's hired him or she hasn't.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. Here

At the end of an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton a short while ago, USA TODAY's Susan Page inquired about reports that former Clinton administration national security adviser Sandy Berger is advising her.

Susan asked whether Clinton has any qualms about having Berger as an unofficial adviser to her campaign, given his mishandling of sensitive, classified intelligence documents in 2003?

"He has no official role in my campaign. He's been a friend for more than 30 years. But he doesn't have any official role," Clinton said.

But he's an unofficial adviser, Susan asked?

"I have thousands of unofficial advisers," said Clinton, "and, you know, I appreciate all of that. But he has no official role in my campaign."

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/10/sen-clinto...

[rucky]

37. That settles that, then. n/t