White House: DeLay more Bush's business friend than social pal

[rainbow4321]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D89ENE380.html


The White House said Wednesday that President Bush considers House Majority Leader Tom DeLay a friend but suggested he's more a business associate than a social pal. "I think there are different levels of friendship with anybody," presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said.

<snip>

Last week, Bush put some distance between himself and DeLay after the majority leader suggested judges should be penalized for their decisions in the Terri Schiavo case. Bush said he believed in an independent judiciary.

McClellan said the question posed to him Wednesday referred to social friends. "But no, he certainly is a friend. ... The president considers him such. And we support his efforts, along with the efforts of other congressional leaders to move forward on the agenda that the American people want us to enact."

<snip>

It's not the first time the White House has gone out of its way to define a presidential relationship. Last year, the White House sought to minimize Bush's ties with indicted former Enron chief Kenneth Lay, saying it had been a long time since they talked and suggesting it had been only a passing friendship.

[Beetwasher]

1. Tom Who?

Any more questions?

[Tempest]

5. Kenny Boy Who?

Seems Bush gets dementia at the most opportune times.

[Dover]

2. Typo.....supposed to read ..."Bush's Bag man".

[kainah]

3. you don't want to get too close

as DeLay goes falling over the cliff

[paineinthearse]

4. Let the distancing begin

See ya, Tommy, it was nice to know ya.

[Orsino]

11. Pretty soon...

...we will always have been at war with Oceania.

[Pirate Smile]

6. They played the video on CNN's Inside Politics. It was hilarious.

The Press gaggle burst out laughing because the "distancing" of the WH from DeLay was soooo obvious.

It needs to get replayed over and over again.

edit to add - I hope Crooks and Liars has it - nope, they don't.

I hope Olberman plays tonight.

[Neshanic]

7. Delay..Delay...The President knows a Dekay from Omaha.

Him and his lovely family. No Delay though. Must be some mix-up.

[fob]

12. "I think he mighta ran in a Relay once though. Delay...hmm, you must

be referring to them 'structionist Democrats".

/tomdelay

[Orsino]

8. "Clue-o-gram for you, Congressman." n/t

[MissMarple]

9. Well, it shouldn't take long for some enterprising person to debunk this.

:bounce:

There must be quite a bit on "my dear close friend, Tom", references.

[daleo]

10. Like junior high kids, cutting someone out of a clique.

It is actually kind of funny when right wingers show this side of their personalities.

[MsConduct]

13. Let the back peddaling begin..... n/t

[nookiemonster]

14. Ahmed Chalabi

Ahmed who? State of the Union, what?

[Straight Shooter]

15. McClellan is the master of the verbal pretzel.

McClellan said the question posed to him Wednesday referred to social friends ... "And we support his efforts, along with the efforts of other congressional leaders to move forward on the agenda that the American people want us to enact."

What agenda, Scottie? The agenda of deception and dissembling?

IMHO, being "business" friends with bush is much, much worse than a "social" friend. You've got to sink pretty low to do business in the manner that bush conducts business.

[Neshanic]

17. "McClellan's Lexicon and Iconography" at a bookstore near you.

Social friends...screwable toadies that will slink off when asked to be rewarded at a later date or administration.

Also see "Lay".

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Popcorn, where did I place my popcorn

Oh here, thanks...

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Now yuo will have to admit this... next Press Conference, Mr Presidnet what do you think of Majority Leader Tom Delay?

What who is Tom delay?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[kskiska]

18. "Well, to tell you the truth, I barely knew the guy…

we may have seen each other across a crowded room on occasion…"

[Neshanic]

20. "He had me at bug larva".....memories of happier times.

[dave29]

19. Kenny Boy Lay and Tom Delay

"just business associates"

there are different levels of friendship, just like there are different levels of Republican Contributers.

[rainbow4321]

23. Add to the list...Funeralgate.."Bobby who"???

Least he has yet to say "Tom who" under OATH...

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/08/09/bush/


The affidavit also stated that Bush never spoke with the Texas Funeral Service Commission about the investigation, and that Bush had "no personal knowledge of relevant facts of the investigation nor do I have any personal knowledge of relevant facts concerning any dispute arising from this investigation."

But in a forthcoming story by Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff, Johnnie B. Rogers, attorney for SCI, said he and Waltrip met with Bush's chief of staff and campaign manager, Joe Allbaugh, on April 15 to hand deliver a letter demanding an end to the investigation.

Bush stuck his head into the meeting, Rogers told Isikoff, and said, "Hey Bobby, are those people still messing with you?" When Waltrip indicated that they were, Bush asked Rogers, "Hey, Johnnie B. Are you taking care of him?" Rogers replied, "I'm doing my best, Governor."

Rogers' story appears to contradict Bush's statement that he has "had no conversations with SCI officials, agents or representatives" about the state's investigation. Bush press secretary Linda Edwards told Isikoff that Bush and Waltrip had a "brief verbal exchange," though "they did not discuss the case."

[powergirl]

21. YOU MEAN WE'RE NOT BFF (BEST FRIENDS FOREVER)?

It's really sad when the president has to define his "friendships." I wonder if he passes around a slam book.:pals:

[Dr Fate]

22. Judas comes to mind. Or Sgt. Schultz. n/t

n/t

[yellowcanine]

27. As in " I know nossing!"???? A classic line from a classic show.

[DrZeeLit]

24. Boys and girls -- can you say... HOT ROCK? as in DROPPED LIKE? n/t

[Festivito]

25. Rat deserting a stink'n ship Act II, sc. 7.

Love these reality plays.

[yellowcanine]

26. "I did not have a mandate with that man, Mr. Delay." heh.

[ninkasi]

28. Doesn't this make you wonder

what DeLay knows, and who he knows it about? He couldn't have held onto power this long without a very impressive list of things that certain people would rather not have known publicly.

That's the kind of snake DeLay is; he collects information, whether he needs it right now or not, because he is so completely corrupt, he realizes what corruption truly is. Oh, this might get really, really good.

If Tom Delay helps bring down the Bush Criminals Gang, I will celebrate for weeks. If it happens, for sure I will need a designated driver, because I'm going to tie one on, just because.

[truthisfreedom]

29. sorry, old buddy, but you know, it's just "business."

don't take it personal-like. we all got to put food on our families, but you, well, heh-heh, you brought a few bugs into the works, know what i mean?