How Run-Down Is the Briefing Room? Let's Start With the Mice

[MADem]

My first thought was that they were talking about the REPORTERS (are they mice, or men??? Or women as well, to be PC) but nooo..... http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/04/politics/04letter.html?

...And so, another renovation of the press room is in the works, with the usual suspicions from reporters that it is all a ruse to get them out of the White House once and for all. A makeover would take months, requiring journalists to move to temporary quarters, most likely next door, to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. But in a town where proximity is power - and where the press room's closeness to the West Wing means that reporters can still buttonhole people who come and go from the Oval Office - the fear is that once the press moves out, the project will become mired in construction delays.

Then it will be easy, or so the gloomy prediction goes, for the White House to offer snazzier quarters much farther away.

"At this stage, I'm Mr. Cooperation, but if it looks like some kind of plan to kick us out, I'll turn into the opposition," said Ron Hutcheson, the Knight Ridder reporter who is president of the White House Correspondents' Association. Mr. Hutcheson plans to meet with Mr. Hagin and Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, to discuss improvements like new cubicles for reporters, new seats in the briefing room and wireless Internet service.

"I think it's part of the Bush administration's anal-retentiveness," Mr. Hutcheson said. "They like everything neat and tidy. And for all of us who work there, you've got to admit it could use a little tidying up."

[truthisfreedom]

1. it's just a little stall-tactic. bushco has something special planned for

the rennovation period, and the press is suspicious.

[ixion]

2. uh, for people who like things 'neat and tidy'

they sure do make a mess. :grr:

[rodeodance]

3. "months"--why months??

[MADem]

5. Keeps them out of the way during the Ken Lay trials, doesn't it?

They won't be able to see who's going in and out of the Oval Office, either. It turns the White House into a Private Palace, basically. No tours for tourists, no press to see our government at work. Coup accompli!

[Straight Shooter]

10. So they can pad the pockets of their "chosen" contractors

Said contractors will probably be replacing mice with *cough* bugs.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Wondering if there's a mouse problem upstairs....

"In the neatnik Bush administration, mice have been spotted on the lower level, where an ailing bathroom has been shut down and its toilet removed.":evilgrin:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

7. Upstairs there is a giant RAT problem

:evilgrin:

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Good one! nt

[NNN0LHI]

6. Better yet lets start with the rats sitting in the chairs n/r

[gratuitous]

8. The president of WHCA calls himself "Mr. Cooperation"?

How about Mr. Bootlicker? Or Mr. Prostrate? Or, in terms of the stories that have gotten past this group of snoozing lapdogs, Mr. Completely?

[Robbien]

11. When was the last time any news came out of the press gaggle?

Most of the time questions are are softballs and when a real question is asked it is not answered.

Why have one at all.