Get out the Pitchforks!! Apparently, the GOP wants to go back to the classics. U.S. officials told NBC News that the full record of Clarke’s testimony two years ago would not be declassified. They said that at the request of the White House, however, the CIA was going through the transcript to see what could be declassified, with an eye toward pointing out contradictions. This is TWO-BIT dictatorship level BS. And what are the odds that while an occasional source will report it -- few will -- and this kind of wretched behavior will be ignored? Could not be more disgusted. UPDATE: I'm wrong, I actually can be more disgusted. The "HITS" keep on coming...from our ever delinquent mass media, time to pass on more character smears without any foundation or justification whatsoever. Via Atrios BLITZER: Well, John, I get the sense not only what Dr. Rice just said to you and other reporters at the White House, but what administration officials have been saying since the weekend, basically that Richard Clarke from their vantage point was a disgruntled former government official, angry because he didn't get a certain promotion. He's got a hot new book out now that he wants to promote. He wants to make a few bucks, and that his own personal life, they're also suggesting that there are some weird aspects in his life as well, that they don't know what made this guy come forward and make these accusations against the president. Is that the sense that you're getting, speaking to a wide range of officials? KING: None of the senior officials I have spoken to here talked about Mr. Clarke's personal life in any way. The Bush Administration ladies and gentlemen. There's no sewer too foul, no piece of crap too untoward for them to throw out there.