Froomkin: What Did the President Know? --- Finally ....

[understandinglife]

What Did the President Know?

By Dan Froomkin

July 25, 2005

Now that special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald is said to have expanded his investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's identity to encompass a possible White House cover-up, what the president and the vice president knew would appear to be much more relevant.

<clip>

But get ready for more and more talk about the parallels between this story and the Clinton intern scandal -- and of course, Watergate.

We're already hearing some of the prototypical questions being raised. Here's former presidential adviser David Gergen, on ABC's "This Week" yesterday: "What did the president know and when did he know it?"

<clip>

More at the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html

The toothpaste is not going back into the tube, Georgie boy, no matter how hard you and Dickie try ......

WATCH IT; SPREAD IT http://www.bushflash.com/right.html

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us - How ever long it takes, the day must come when tens of millions of caring individuals peacefully but persistently defy the dictator, deny the corporatists their cash flow, and halt the evil being done in Iraq and in all the other places the Bu$h neoconster regime is destroying civilization and the environment in the name of "America."

[truebrit71]

1. FINALLY!!!!!

The House of Cards is starting to crumble!!!

[rndmprsn]

62. kick

[marty13]

2. Can yeah feel it............??

This administration has done a masterful job these past 4 1/2 years in message discipline, framing the argument du jour and hog tying our supposedly inquisitive press. Events of late give me hope that finally, this WH is running out of fingers to plug the leaking dyke. This will be more fun than watching Nixon and friends crumble.

[babylonsister]

5. Hey, marty13, welcome to DU!

[jurassicpork]

15. Welcome to DU, marty

Fellow Masshole Jurassicpork here, coming atcha from Hudson.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[tavalon]

22. Hey you too

jurassicpork, Welcome to DU!

[FreedomAngel82]

34. Hi Marty!

Nice you're here!! :hi:

[oneold1-4u]

57. A nice warm welcome

To both jurassic and marty! Still a newbie under 1k too, but hope to see more of both of you here on DU.

[calimary]

77. Seconded. To both of you from me, and also to oneold1-4u.

Glad you're all weighing in, and on the Side of the Light! Now, get to work.

Visualize IMPEACHMENT.
Pass it on...

[understandinglife]

18. Welcome to DU, marty13!

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[newyawker99]

19. Hi marty13!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Rainscents]

26. Welcome to DU Marty13!!!

:toast:

[stubtoe]

28. Yep and don't it feel GOOD

Howdy Marty! from another newbie. Welcome aboard!

[AllyCat]

54. Welcome Stubtoe!

It's always nice to have new folks.:hi:

[goclark]

31. Welcome marty

I know one finger that I would like to show them as they hit the door!

ha ha

[gademocrat7]

53. Welcome to DU marty13

[gatorboy]

3. This is an interesting snip from the article....

"Bush and Cheney were not placed under oath -- the reasoning apparently being that they had no direct involvement in the potential criminal activity under investigation: tge leak itself.

If they lied during the interview, what can be held against them considering they weren't officially under oath?

[jurassicpork]

4. "You don't wish to be placed under oath...

"...so we can't prosecute you for perjury when it comes out later that you lied to us? Sounds reasonable to me. What do you boys think? Fucking A, put your hands down!"

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[Booster]

29. With these two, I don't think it would have made a difference if

they were under oath - they would have still lied. Oath? We don't need no stinkin oath.

[oneold1-4u]

58. Twice wrong (both of them)

They both took a very serious OATH to this nation when their offices were administered to them TWICE! They are both sooooo much worse than nixon-clinton and thousands of times more worthy of prison than MARTHA for lies!
Their lies are costing, billions of dollars, personal security for thousands, and thousands of american's and other's lives around the world.
They believe they are above any accountability and so far they are! The accounting is still adding up for all the cost, though, and hopefully one simple stumble will help them fall very hard.

[Horse with no Name]

6. I would think their oath of office

should cover that. Any time ANY of them speak in a professional capacity..ie as President or Vice-President, they have already sworn an oath to the people. They shouldn't have to be re-sworn.

[klyon]

9. good point

they violated that in the first days by ignoring treaties and international agreements.

KL

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Exactly

I think so too. When they took the oath of the office they promised to uphold the Constiution. They don't get rid of that oath until they're out of office. I hope Fitzgerald knows that.

[Just Me]

7. That doesn't shield them from obstruction of justice,...

,...or conspiracy charges in addition to a number of other crimes for which they may be charged.

[Supersedeas]

8. obstruction of justice may still stick if ya can prove they definitively

lied

[Pithy Cherub]

10. Or one of the worst political sticky wickets, named as

as unindicted co-conspirators with a reserve option to bring charges should evidence prepared for the indicted's trials warrant it. There is also the appearance of impropriety that is as debilitating politically as being charged.

Complete exoneration would be bush/cheney's goal because this would be about their legacy and history. It would go into the first paragraph of any book, story or obituary about their overall administration. It is a powerful incentive to try and staunch being named even as an unindicted co-conspirator.

That is going to depend on any charges brought against their underlings that would cause them to shorten any potential sentences or get immunity by bringing the current occupants of the presidency and vice presidency into this. They have to be quite concerened (:scared:)these days at 1600. It is obvious they have lost any ability to manage this and applied the same adroit management skills and inept people thay have used in managing the war on terra. Oh, the irony...:popcorn:

[Gabi Hayes]

72. they can be brought back to the grand jury, and asked to reconcile

their testimony, if needs be

the 'interview' with the 911 commission had nothing to do w/Plame, unfortunately

remember that Rove was called back twice, after his initial perjury, so let's hope everybody in the WH gets another chance to muddy the waters, and dig themselves in deeper

[Rainscents]

11. HOUSE is coming down!!!

These baster thought they would get away with this shit!

[janetle]

12. And I want to know....

...if and how Jeff Gannon was involved in this. I like my loose ends tied together.

[htuttle]

16. He's just a button man

Not a capo.

[MadisonProgressive]

50. Don't you mean Butt man?

[oneold1-4u]

59. Let bygones be

Because if Gannon ever were to resurface, the clinton thing, and even nixon would be mild stories in comparison. I keep going back in history of the WH to find any precedent of actions that might add up to worse than creating a whorehouse in the WH!
The conjecture of gays in military compromising security?? This is a really big WOW! If Gannon could be found and his price was not to high, would he be of any use. He really should be brought into this!

[understandinglife]

13. And, the 'treason' question was finally asked at the White House, today.

"The question is, have the legal counsel to the White House or White House staff reviewed the statute in sufficient specificity to determine whether a violation of that statute would, in effect, constitute treason?"

From today's White House Press briefing:
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Press_hammers_White_House_on_leak_again_Question_on_trea_0725.html




Looking a little tense; just imagine their conversations with their personal attorney(s)

Senator Reid's Treason-gate clock at http://democrats.senate.gov/leak.html (thank you DUer, wakeme2008)


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[jurassicpork]

14. And...

...can one prove obstruction of justice or the conspoiracy to commit obstruction if one can't prove that a crime was even committed or by whom?

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[understandinglife]

21. Thank you for ....

http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/2005/07/one-picture-is-worth-1000.html#comments

:rofl:


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[jurassicpork]

42. No problem

I'm a capper by trade, anyway, something I understand from Delilah Boyd is a favorite occupation of DUers. I dunno know why I don't post more captions on my blog like I used to.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[MadisonProgressive]

51. Yes.

[democratic veteran]

66. Thanks

Great post.

[Gronk Groks]

67. Senator Reid's Treason Gate Clock !!!!!

THAT'S MY SENATOR !!!!! Give 'em Hell Harry !!!!!
http://democrats.senate.gov/leak.html

743 days, 19 hours, 48 minutes, and 16 seconds without Republicans Investigating the CIA Leak Case


CIA Leak Case By the Numbers

Number of days after the article outing Ambassador Wilson's wife appeared that the White House required its staff to turn over evidence relating to the leak: 85

Approximate hours between then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez's advance notification to White House Chief of Staff Andy Card that he would require staff to turn over evidence relating to the case and formal notification to staff of that requirement: 12

Minimum number of times an Administration official leaked classified information about the identity of Ambassador Wilson's wife: 11

Minimum number of times after the beginning of the Justice Department's investigation that White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claimed Karl Rove was not involved: 5

Number of press conferences since evidence linking Karl Rove to the leak was made public where Press Secretary McClellan has refused to comment on the case, citing an ongoing criminal investigation: 7

Minimum number of hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate accusations against President Clinton involving the "Whitewater" case: 20

Total hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate the leak of the covert identity of Ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife: 0

[understandinglife]

17. And, today, PNAC boss Schmitt attacks Larry Johnson -- per TPMCafe

Schmitt Versus Johnson

By Matthew Yglesias

July 25, 2005

He can probably speak up for himself, but a few comments seem to be in order in response to the attack on Larry Johnson by Project for a New American Century head Gary Schmitt ....

<clip>

This is "slime and defend" at its best.

<clip>

The Director of Central Intelligence, the Justice Department, a special prosecutor, and a whole series of federal judges are just confused, I guess. Now Johnson comes along and says the right is making stuff up, so it's time to go after him. Simple as that. Now everyone's put on notice -- make trouble for the White House and they'll come gunning for you.

Link to all the comments:
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/7/25/124540/690

We know we are finally getting to the core of the rotten apple when PNACer Schmitt gets called to dish dirt.

Hey, Gary, if you're reading this, check the following, I'm sure you'll like it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4187373

http://www.peacecandy.com/gwbush/remindus
REMIND US

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[understandinglife]

46. Larry Johnson, CIA vs President Bush

Link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4191554&mesg_id=4191554


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[ooglymoogly]

20. my my my ... is david gergin finally getting it?

he has been acting like this is just a bunch of left wing rabble rousing. falling off that turnip truck must have knocked some sense into him.

[understandinglife]

25. Video clip and transcript kindly provided by Brad Blog

GERGEN: 'What did the President know and when did he know it?
http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001624.htm
.... So I think...that's why I think this is increasingly gonna be about the President over time.'


Roger that, David.

He certainly must have had quite a thump to something -- his conscience perhaps?? :shrug:


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[Lannes]

23. "What did the president know and when did he know it?"

Those magic words. :)

[savemefromdumbya]

24. TREASON....... "my Dear Watson"

Sherlock Homes would have fun here?

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Press_hammers_White_House_on_leak_again_Question_on_trea_0725.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/25/165247/641:evilgrin:

[stubtoe]

27. Yep! "What Did the President Know?"

That's the question that gets the impeachment balls rolling!

Dare I get my hopes up yet???

Thanks so much for this post. It absolutely made my day.

[CAcyclist]

30. Did You See The Faulkner Parody Entry on Slate?

This link was further down the page - this entry is only on the website

The Administration and the Fury

Emily Wagster Pettus writes for the Associated Press: "A scathing parody that likens President Bush to the 'idiot' in William Faulkner's novel 'The Sound and the Fury' has won this year's Faulkner write-alike contest -- and touched off a literary spat.

"Organizers of the Faux Faulkner competition are accusing Hemispheres, the United Airlines magazine that has sponsored the contest for six years, of playing politics by not putting Sam Apple's 'The Administration and the Fury' in its print edition -- only on its Web site. . . .

"The story portrays President Bush in the role of Benjy, the mentally challenged son -- or, as Faulkner himself said, the 'idiot' -- in his 1929 novel about the wreckage of a Southern family."

Here's the parody, as published in Slate in February, and in which Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepare Bush for a news conference.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2113927/

The Administration and the Fury
If William Faulkner were writing on the Bush White House.
By Sam Apple
Posted Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, at 2:05 PM PT

William Faulkner
February 23, 2005

"Did you get him ready for the press conference?" Dick said.

"Dont you worry about him. He'll be ready," Condi said. Condi stood up from the desk. Her legs were long and she smelled like the Xeroxed copies of the information packets they give me each day.

"Hello Georgie," Condi said. "Did you come to see Condi?" Condi rubbed my hair and it tickled.

"Dont go messing up his hair," Dick said. "Hes got a press conference in a few minutes."

Condi wiped some spit on her hand and patted down my hair. Her hand was soft and she smelled like Xerox copies coming right out of the machine. "He looks just fine," Condi said.

[understandinglife]

32. Steve Perry's cover story: "The Scandal That Could Eat Bush's Brain"

AP Photo/Lauren Shay

July 25, 2005

FOR THE PAST MONTH, a nearly concluded year-and-a-half-long special investigation of who leaked a CIA agent's identity to the press has been making headlines and generating furious speculation that key members of the Bush administration could be indicted soon on criminal charges. Here's a Rove/Plame FAQ list that summarizes reported developments in the case through the end of last week.

<clip>

The "FAQ" is available at:
http://www.citypages.com/databank/26/1286/article13539.asp

Loved the title ....


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[FreedomAngel82]

33. My prediction is

it's going to the top. Bush knows EVERYTHING. I used to think he really was stupid and Cheney is the boss but I just started thinking about this one day and it's so obvious it's all an act. Just like having the "liberal media" myth out and his "cowboy" and "Christian" act. They have the "Bush is dumb" act exactly like they have the "liberal media" myth. So he can get things done without getting caught.

[understandinglife]

36. The 'toothpaste' just keeps ooozzing .....

"... but it is acting on no principle other than power -- except maybe the principle of defending a lie that helped launch a disastrous war.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/25/opinion/main711419.shtml

"The water is getting neck high in the White House

http://progressive.org/?q=mag_wx072505

Valerie Plame had no reason to welcome a reporter into her home last week.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/25/rove.problem.tm.tm

Bush's 'brain' in danger of lobotomy

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/bushs-brain-in-danger-of-lobotomy/2005/07/24/1122143731001.html

:nopity:

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[ClintonTyree]

37. Understatement of the year award goes to.........

When talking about the Speedy Gonzalez "tip" to The White House....... "Don't remember any of that? Not your fault. It didn't get much ink".

"But it's getting a lot of attention today. Why? Possibly because press coverage of the Bush administration, in the first term, failed to sufficiently heed some developments that, in retrospect, seem worthy of more attention".

DUH! :wtf: If THAT isn't the understatement of the freaking year, I don't know what possibly could be! "Failed to sufficiently heed some developments"? :wtf: Yeah, I think they MIGHT have. :eyes: Like just about how EVERYTHING this administration has told us are LIES! :grr: Yeah, I'd say they missed "some developments" alright! :puke:

The press has ONE SHOT to get their credibility back. ONE SHOT! That is, uncovering and digging into this criminal cabal's every untruthful action since *asshole's* first term. That should keep them busy for a few years! This administration has done nothing but lie to the American people since day one and it's high time the press set the record straight!

If you couldn't tell, I'm just a 'liiiiitle' pissed off at the freaking press at the moment. Make it right, you guys. Don't back down from this gang of petty thugs, they aren't supermen. TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE TRUTH! :mad:

[understandinglife]

45. Am I 'getting it'? You seem a tad piss'd at the press ;)

Seriously, I'm right there with you and very much appreciate your firm stance. :yourock:


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[savemefromdumbya]

38. Louise Slaughter and the role of Mr Gannon

Have we all forgotten this?

http://www.votelouise.com/news/93/slaughter-calls-on-special-prosecutor-to-investigate-gannons-role-in-plame-cia-document-leak-scandal

Slaughter Calls on Special Prosecutor to Investigate Gannon's Role in Plame CIA Document Leak Scandal
Reps. Slaughter & Conyers Call on Special Prosecutor and Secret Service to Investigate Growing Gannon Scandal

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules, and Rep. John Conyers (MI-14), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, called on Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald to investigate the leaking of a classified Central Intelligence Agency memo containing the identity of undercover agent Valerie Plame to a man at the center of the White House Press Briefing Room scandal, “Jeff Gannon.”

Rep. Slaughter, a long-time advocate for media reform and accountability, brought this story into the national spotlight days ago when she wrote President Bush asking for an investigation into the issue.

“This matter is growing more serious by the day. We now know that ‘Jeff Gannon’ had access to classified CIA documents that contained the identity of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame. This is more than an issue of media manipulation by the White House… this is now an issue of national security,” said Rep. Slaughter. “What is the White House hiding? This man, Mr. Gannon, should never have been admitted into the White House briefing room in the first place. Someone let him in day after day. Someone gave him access to classified CIA documents. Someone must answer for this. It is critical that we uncover the exact nature of the relationship between Gannon and this White House,” added Slaughter.”

In addition, Reps. Slaughter and Conyers wrote W. Ralph Basham, Director of the Secret Service, calling on his office to provide details on the security clearance of day pass holders in the White House briefing room as well as any and all information they can provide on Mr. Gannon.

“White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan was unable to answer these important questions in yesterday’s briefing so we hope the Secret Service will be able to fill in the blanks,” said Slaughter. “Since the White House has denied any role or responsibility in this matter I hope the Secret Service can shed some light on their procedures for clearing day pass holders to the White House briefing room,” continued Slaughter.

Letter to U.S. Attorney:


February 10, 2005
Mr. Patrick J. Fitzgerald
United States Attorney
US Attorney’s Office
219 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 5000
Chicago, IL 60656

Dear Mr. Fitzgerald:

We write to ask that you investigate the leak of a classified Central Intelligence Agency memo containing the identity of undercover agent Valerie Plame to James D. Guckert, a member of the White House press corps. It appears that the White House was so focused on smearing the reputation of Ambassador Joseph Wilson, that it knowingly leaked his wife’s identity to a Republican activist posing as a journalist.

James D. Guckert, who operated under the false name “Jeff Gannon,” and may have engaged in criminal activity, had been attending press events at the White House for up to three years. Mr. Guckert reportedly received an internal and classified CIA memo that revealed the identity of Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s wife. Because of the extremely sensitive nature of this leak, and its relation to the investigation you are conducting, we believe that you as special counsel are the most appropriate person to conduct the inquiry.

Under Department of Justice regulations, a special counsel should investigate when (1) a “criminal investigation of a person or matter is warranted,” (2) the investigation “by a United States Attorney Office or litigating Division of the Department of Justice would present a conflict of interest for the Department,” and (3) “it would be in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to assume responsibility for the matter.”1 In the present case all three factors have been met.

As has been long discussed, revealing the identity of an undercover agent violates myriad laws. Whoever in the Administration gave Mr. Guckert the memo risked Ms. Plame’s very life and must be punished to the full extent of the law.

There is a clear conflict of interest in the Administration investigating Mr. Guckert’s role in this crime. Mr. Guckert and the White House press operation work together closely to forward the President’s policies.

First, Mr. Guckert would not be considered a bona fide journalist by his peers in the press corps, as most of his claims to legitimacy have already been discredited. Access to the President and his press corps is highly competitive, and many seasoned journalists have not had the honor of attending the events or enjoying the access Mr. Guckert has. That a person of these dubious qualifications was given such close contact to the President, perhaps in violation of standard security procedures, demonstrates the Administration’s affinity for and bias towards Mr. Guckert.

Second, Mr. Guckert’s questions clearly reiterated the White House’s policy, and simply asked for concurrence. Finally, Mr. Guckert’s “articles,” published by a news front for GOPUSA, track White House talking points word for word.

Clearly, Mr. Guckert returned the White House’s favor by advancing the President’s policies with gusto. With such a close relationship between Mr. Guckert and the White House, the conflict of an administration-led investigation is all too apparent.

Finally, the public interest has been thwarted far too long over the leak of Ms. Plame’s identity. It has been over a year and a half since Robert Novak published Plame’s identity and we are no closer to finding who in the Administration illegally leaked her status as an undercover agent. Having a special counsel immediately follow up this lead is necessary to ensure that those who risk their lives for our country to gather intelligence are fully protected.

We look forward to hearing whether you will be following up on this new information, or if you have, what progress you have made.

Sincerely,

/s

Louise M. Slaughter
Ranking Member, Committee on Rules

John Conyers, Jr.
Ranking Member, Committee on Judiciary

[FreedomAngel82]

39. I'm wondering myself

Don't forget Gannon was there at White House INVITE ONLY parties and ELECTION NIGHT. When did Karl Rove see the document and was Jeff Gannon with him?

[understandinglife]

56. Congresswoman Slaughter has been way ahead of most of her ...

... colleagues, on this issue. I remember the day that letter appeared and we are all still waiting for an answer. Let's keep demanding those answers.


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[savemefromdumbya]

75. I think we need to write to our Congress members

keeping the pressure up!

[FreedomAngel82]

40. The best line

"I think this is going to be about the President over time."

[BradBlog]

41. Good Catch, ul!

Linked up...As follows:

Washington Post: 'What Did the President Know?'
And now even 'The Watergate Paper' Asks 'The Question'...
As the '12-Hour Gap' Expands to a Three Day Gap!

WaPo's Dan Froomkin joins the growing chorus today of pundits and prognosticator's asking "The Question" about what George W. Bush knew and when he knew it.

We previously covered yesterday's explosion of voices asking that same question, but Froomkin adds to the mix by taking a fairly detailed look back at the under-reported stories from over a year ago when both Bush and Cheney were questioned in the case by Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald...

URL: http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001627.htm

---
Brad Friedman
THE BRAD BLOG - The uprising continues...
http://www.BradBlog.com
VELVET REVOLUTION - The revolution begins...
http://www.VelvetRevolution.us

*** The BRAD SHOW On the Air via RAW RADIO!
*** http://www.BradShow.com
*** Now LIVE on Saturday Nights from 7p - 11p ET!
*** Broadcast coast-to-coast and around the globe
*** via the IBC Satellite Radio Network! Listen Online!

[understandinglife]

44. Thanks for the excellent links and coverage, Brad.

Peace, UL

[Liberty Belle]

43. Too bad this is only in the online edition.

[Bumblebee]

48. and, alas, nothing in tomorrow's print editions of either the WP or NYT

Hope it means they are still working on putting it all together for later in the week. Tomorrow will be the shuttle day, so we all should take a break and not expect too much. Once B. goes to Crawford, the briefings there at their fake WH won't be as much fun either because there will be fewer reporters. Patience is a hard thing... :)

[McCamy Taylor]

47. Bet a nickel Cheney knew.

[Carolab]

49. These people have NO shame. Why wouldn't Bush have lied???

Look what his mother said as she accompanies him on his new push to promote "social security reform":

" 'I'm here because I'm worried about our 17 grandchildren, and so is my husband,' Mrs. Bush said. 'They will get no Social Security.' "

The rotten apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

IMHO, BUSH LIED ABOUT THE WHOLE CIA LEAK. PERIOD. And he's NEVER stopped lying about it.

[mpendragon]

55. doesn't it trouble the right that the best defense they have . . .

is Bush's ignorance? Every time there is a big problem their answer is pretty close to: the president would have done something about it but he didn't know and it's somebody else's fault. Isn't there a little hit of shame with the defense that he appears to have no idea what is going on? The generous idea that he isn't wrong because he's too ignorant to know is a really low bar for a president.

9/11 -> He ignored terrorism after being warned so he was ignorant about it but he blames the CIA when there is a problem. Why couldn't we stop it?
Excuse: He didn't know because the CIA wasn't doing their job.
Real Answer: He didn't care about terrorism. He cared about tax cuts for millionaires and invading Iraq.

Iraq WMD -> He looked for an excuse to go to war and claimed ignorance when no WMDs were found. Why didn't he know there weren't any?
Excuse: He blames the CIA.
Real answer: He didn't care about the truth or anything that would have kept him from the invasion.

Plame -> He claims he didn't know who did it for months. Why didn't he know?
Excuse: Will they blame the CIA for having such outable agents?
Real Answer: He knew about it all the time and it was revenge against Wilson.

[myrna minx]

52. House of Bush House of Cards. Apologies to Mr. Unger. n/t

[understandinglife]

60. IMPORTANT DU THREAD -- White House had 4 day warning....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4194532


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[understandinglife]

61. It appears the White House and DoJ had, at least, 67 days to align.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4196003&mesg_id=4196003


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[jurassicpork]

63. What's been bugging me

...is that document faxed to AF 1 on July 7th, the one that the GIP's been trying to stick to Colin Powell as if it was fly paper. Why would they generate a classified document with a covert CIA agent's name on it? The Niger document concerned Wilson at that time, not his wife.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/2005/07/just-another-roadside-distraction.html

[understandinglife]

64. Been bugging me, as well, and I think the document contained ...

... information well beyond Wilson's trip and well into what "Ms Valerie Plame" and others had been doing re: proliferation of WMD.

I wonder if she is called Valerie Plame or Valerie P. in the document?

What will be quite interesting is if David Kelly's name was also mentioned in that document.

I also wonder if some or all of the contents of that document comprise the classified information that Mr Fitzgerald has presented to the courts - perhaps reflected in the 8 redacted pages of Judge Tatel's opinion??


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[jurassicpork]

69. David Kelly?

>What will be quite interesting is if David Kelly's name was also mentioned in that document.<

THE CREATOR OF BOSTON PUBLIC IS INVOLVED, TOO?!

j/k I know who Dr. Kelly was.

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com/

[understandinglife]

70. You do have a sense of humor! .... also, DUer 'Peace Patriot' has ...

... some posts you and others may find useful -- regarding the "David Kelly" to which I was referring:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4148545#4161140

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4148545#4155827

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4148545#4152023


Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[jurassicpork]

71. Sure I have a sense of humor

I wouldn't be a good liberal blogger if I didn't.

And, yeah, I've already read these postings about Dr. Kelly and his death has a Vince Foster/Robert Ludlum feel to it, no?

JP
http://jurassicpork.blogspot.com

[MojoXN]

65. "The toothpaste is not going back into the tube, Georgie boy..."

No matter how hard you and Dickie try...

That's fucking priceless! I like that one even better than my personal favorite, "You can't unscramble that egg, pal." I wonder why, all of a sudden, the media decided to start doing its job again? Must be the lack of celebrity trials and missing white women. It must be a crying shame for them to have to report on something that is ACTUALLY news for once, and have to make the Dubyites look bad to boot.

MojoXN

[Gronk Groks]

68. Hopefully, it is because the Corporations have realized...

...that "*" has blown it soooo bad that the Corporations are going to lose more money than they made under the tax give-aways. Thus they are bailing out while the getting is good.

Sitting on a sinking ship is NOT what smart guys do...
...and these guys are smart; greedy but smart.
:think:

[volitionx]

73. If Bush Ever Gets On the Stand...

On live TV, I'm going to burn a DVD of it and laugh my ass off at his stammering idiocy. But I don't think he'll ever do that. They'd check him for wires first (at least I hope they would), and he'd refuse to testify anyway. He did provide some "information" in this case, but I'm sure he lied like lying liars tend to do.

I don't think we'll ever take this fascist lot down until we get a) the media to be OBJECTIVE, and b) we get our votes counted again.

The neo-con revolution is not meant to last 8 years. It's meant to last FOREVER. They didn't work so hard to steal two elections just to give us back the country afterward. Jeb will be president next, and it'll be more of the same, or worse.

They've done away with that quaint notion of trading power back and forth between Dems and Repugnicans--the neo-cons have it and they WON'T GIVE IT BACK. EVER. Their takeover of our country will go on interminably, just like the bogus "war on terror". This will be a permanent fixture of our lives, unless we seriously change the entire system.

Then again, the problem is this: Americans are still TOO COMFORTABLE to change their own status quo. Until people feel personal discomfort that crosses their own threshold of tolerance, they won't be moved to do anything to change their society. People hear of tens of thousands of Iraqis dying, U.S. soldiers dying, the neo-cons lying, people in Darfur dying, and there's no mass revolt. Why? Because after all is said and done, most of us are _apparently_ unscathed. We can always go back and numb our minds at the bar or in front of the TV.

If there were a draft, for example, all of that would change.

Too many people have too much riding on this administration. If Fitzgerald gets too close to the truth, something insane will happen, like he'll be fired, or Bushmaster will do something totally loco like declare a state of emergency, or set off a "terrorist" bomb, etc.

They are capable of ANYTHING and will do ANYTHING to stay in power. It'll take way more than a measly trial to ruin them.

[Catboater]

74. Now, stop and think for a minute.

"What did the president know and when did he know it?" This would presume that he has some semblance of awareness as to the things that are occurring around him and right in front of him. We're talking about GW Bush, right? Doesn't this seem kind of far-fetched? Jeesh.

[deacon]

76. It can only be 2 things- Rove lied so either Bush doesn't care Rove lied

to him about a high crime and breach of national security or Bush knew and he is a part of it.