Does THIS explain the false alarm today?

[Brotherjohn]

Look at the White House web site, and click over to "Press Briefings"
http://www.whitehouse.gov

There's a press briefing going on RIGHT NOW, and it's the first one since the British memo story broke overseas! The rest have all been "gaggles" and such en route to Georgia, or Russia, etc.

Now that they're back in the States, this false alarm (and evacuation of the White House), happens RIGHT BEFORE the FIRST press briefing in front of the entire WH press corps since the British memo story broke. Even if the press corps could all return, how many of them do you think have their mind on anything other than cleaning their pants? (they were shouting about an "enemy plane" on the floor of the Senate, or so i hear)

And yesterday, RIGHT BEFORE the evening news, details of a possible assassination attempt are released (well after it happened).

In another few days, they will be referring to the memo story as "old news". Right now, they're just stalling for time.

EDIT:
On a related note, people wonder why this story hasn't broke here yet. I wonder if it's not related to the fact that there have been no WH press briefings since it came out. These types of stories which have been damaging to the administration (few as they are)have typically built up based in large part on WH press briefing questions.

[Ksec]

1. it wouldnt surprise me one bit

[paineinthearse]

2. Hope CSPAN covers it

The house is in a break so it may be covered live.

[FreedomAngel82]

18. I hope so too

In another thread someone posted it was a governor from Kentucky. Hmm. Interesting timing and how they didn't know eh? According to the governor he had the clearing to be there. And they're protecting us eh? Seems like either they've faked this whole thing and had the governor be the cop-out or something. A lot of weird hole's with this whole ordeal.

[napkinz]

3. De Plame, De Plame!

:silly:

[CottonBear]

4. Ding, ding, ding! We have a WINNER!

The stupid sheeple will never know about the memo.
It's just terror, terror, terror all the time.
:grr: :banghead:

[gatorboy]

10. Not all the time....

Just when it suits them....

[JDPriestly]

5. Of course, this is about the memo.

True to form. Same old, same old Rove trick.

[NewInNewJ.]

6. I think

you hit the nail right on the head.

[seemslikeadream]

7. Briefing on now first thing EVACUATION

Scottie says let me give you the facts, look over here.

[Brotherjohn]

14. Any updates on the press briefing? I can't pick it up through...

... the WH web site.

I see you've changed your sig line to reflect Conor Oberst's powerfuls statement on Leno the other night. I just changed my sig line to the memo. In a wierd sort of way, they're connected. They may both represent a sea change in the works.

Related but unrelated: I met Conor a few times when he was a little 16-yr-old indie-rock dork playing his first out-of-town shows in my town, with his band Commander Venus. He's grown up so much; I'm so PROUD of him! (sniff sniff!!)

[seemslikeadream]

15. They are STILL talking about the incident!

I can't get Conor out of my mind. The new Dylan is the word. Did you see I have the video link there? I heard Leno was completely caught by suprise by Conor's choice, he thought it was going to be another song. Conor said at the end "fil mish, mish" twice at the end. Someone said that it is a fairly obscure Arabic colloqualism most heard among "fellahin" or rural communities in places like Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. It means impossible to the point of being laughable. How appropriate!


When the president talks to God
Are the conversations brief or long?
Does he ask to rape our women’s' rights
And send poor farm kids off to die?
Does God suggest an oil hike
When the president talks to God?

When the president talks to God
Are the consonants all hard or soft?
Is he resolute all down the line?
Is every issue black or white?
Does what God say ever change his mind
When the president talks to God?

When the president talks to God
Does he fake that drawl or merely nod?
Agree which convicts should be killed?
Where prisons should be built and filled?
Which voter fraud must be concealed
When the president talks to God?

When the president talks to God
I wonder which one plays the better cop
We should find some jobs. the ghetto's broke
No, they're lazy, George, I say we don't
Just give 'em more liquor stores and dirty coke
That's what God recommends

When the president talks to God
Do they drink near beer and go play golf
While they pick which countries to invade
Which Muslim souls still can be saved?
I guess god just calls a spade a spade
When the president talks to God

When the president talks to God
Does he ever think that maybe he's not?
That that voice is just inside his head
When he kneels next to the presidential bed
Does he ever smell his own bullshit
When the president talks to God?

I doubt it

I doubt it

[Brotherjohn]

16. Leno said something about "singing his critically acclaimed protest...

...song". So he at least knew it was going to be a protest song.

I find it hard to believe he knew that much and no one bothered to ask anything more about it. Especially in this era of FCC fines and all.

I've read some posts on this, and my understanding is that Leno is a Democrat, although he's pretty moderate (he's been quoted as saying he's never voted conservative in his life). I could see him being okay with this, although it is a surprise (that ANYONE would air it). One good explanation I read is that it was sweeps week. The controversy this has generated likely boosted ratings a bit.

[seemslikeadream]

19. Commander Venus

Oberst, third from left, and the crew from Commander Venus.
http://www.timmcmahan.com/brighteyes.htm

Did you see that I added a bit about the phrase "fil mish, mish" to my post? Cool that you met him.

[Brotherjohn]

21. Yeah, I noticed that. I also read in some postings that "fil mish mish"..

... is apparently an Arabic saying similar to "I doubt it" (more like "when pigs fly").

Nice touch, I thought.

[spooked911]

8. Good catch!

[southernleftylady]

9. what british memo? tia nt

[The Doctor.]

11. That's the one.

Here you go:

[napkinz]

12. smells of Rove all over

[malmapus]

13. I guess ole Gannon did find new work

as a fly boy

[gordianot]

17. Good speculation a step further, could it be the memo is real afterall?

[Brotherjohn]

22. I think it's widely acknowledged to be accurate. At least over in the UK.

And for the little press it's gotten here, I've read of one anonymous US intel official who says it's accurate.

Remember, this has been ALL OVER the Brit press, and no one there has denied it yet. And this is attributed to the HEAD of British intel, speaking directly to BLAIR, relating what the White House was saying at the time. This isn't just some low level operative's opinion.

They're scared to death over how to deal with it here.

Maybe the press is, too. maybe that explains it.

[jazzjunkysue]

20. Anyone have the balls to jump on the story?

Is Helen there?

[napkinz]

23. Another Red Herring Alert!

[libertypirate]

24. Good catch I was wondering.....