(AP) Bush Doesn't Remember Abramoff Meetings (WH responds to TIME)

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush_abramoff_photos&printer=1;_ylt=AqBtaYNM5s04giznC2yJ7BQGw_IE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Bush Doesn't Remember Abramoff Meetings

54 minutes ago

Although President Bush says he doesn't recall meeting convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the two have reportedly turned up in photos together.

Both Washingtonian and Time magazines have reported the existence of about a half-dozen photos showing the two together.

Time reported on its Web site Sunday that its staff members have seen at least six photos featuring Bush and Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his lobbying practices and has pledged to cooperate with investigators. They appeared to have been taken at White House functions, according to the reports.

The White House has acknowledged that Abramoff attended some events at the Executive Mansion, and spokeswoman Dana Perino said Sunday it's not surprising that the two would have met.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. He can't even remember what he did last night

how the hell can anyone expect him to remember anything else?

[movonne]

22. I think he is going the way of Reagan...

[uppityperson]

28. remember when they announced he had alzheimers?

no suprise.

[cantstandbush]

49. Bush doesn't remember, Alito doesn't remember, Rove doesn't

remember, Cheney doesn't remember...the country is either being led and controlled by a bunch of liars or a bunch of old amnesiacs.

[rodeodance]

2. "The president has taken tens upon thousands of pictures at such events,"

"The president has taken tens upon thousands of pictures at such events," Perino said.

Abramoff met a few times with White House staff and attended Hanukkah receptions in 2001 and 2002, the White House has said, but officials there have refused to disclose how many times he's been into the complex or what business he had there.

The White House also has not released any photos featuring the president and Abramoff, who was declared a Bush "pioneer" for raising at least $100,000 for the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign.
.......

The White House, after playing down the Bush-Abramoff photos and the lobbyist's ties to the president, criticized Abramoff for breaking the law. "Mr. Abramoff admitted being involved in outrageous wrongdoing," Perino said.

[rodeodance]

3. old news to many here--but AP did an article and yahoo picked it up

[rodeodance]

8. Average (52 votes)--4.3 stars

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Your Recommendation:

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[LiberalFighter]

39. Abramoff was a bush Pioneer and gw doesn't remember him?

[MercutioATC]

43. There were 327 Pioneers...

...I think it's possible that an elected official might not remember all of his contributors...even major ones.

I'm not defending Bush, just saying that until we see more evidence I don't think I'm comfortable claiming that Bush "must" have known him.

[Occulus]

58. I truly MUST disagree, and strongly.

I very clearly recall how... hmm, desperately... the Bush team was pushing their "pioneeers" during his first campaign. It wasn't just a passing fad, nor was it even remotely something that Bush himself was not proud of. Indeed, it was the opposite- the Bush Pioneers were touted, over and over again, as his largest core supporters, over and over again.

He knew Abramoff, probably almost as well as he knew "Kenny boy". Given his own merely casual acquaintance with the truth, it's fair to presume he is lying when he says he "doesn't remember". He doesn't remember Abramoff in the same way I "didn't remember" to mow the lawn when I was a teenager.

[MercutioATC]

64. I'm not arguing probabilities, I'm debating what can be proven.

I think we'll probably see some evidence that what you say it true, but I haven't seen real proof yet. Until then, I'm not comfortable making allegations.

[The Roux Comes First]

57. Now hold it right there. When did * learn to work a complex

piece of high-tech equipment like a camera? I'm still agog that he sometimes fights a bicycle to a draw!

:sarcasm:

[Occulus]

60. You can remove your sarcasm tag.

It could as well be the bare-assed truth. :)

[VegasWolf]

4. He doesn't remember anything during his drunken stupors! I believe

him.

[stepnw1f]

5. Republicans Can't Remember Much Can They

Maybe "We the People" can help them remember!

[rzemanfl]

9. Somebody recently said on one of the news websites that the

official Republican position on Abramoff is "I don't recall."

[rodeodance]

using Reagan's playbook.

official Republican position on Abramoff is "I don't recall."

[Tom Bombadil]

41. Indeed

Karl Rove "couldn't remember" if he mentioned Valerie Plame in conversations with reporters.
Condi Rice "couldn't remember" if Richard Clarke discussed the al Qaeda threat during meetings in 2001 .

Seems to be a theme with Republicans. When faced with a tricky question resort to memory loss.

[rzemanfl]

6. I don't remember us electing that fucker either time. n/t

[boobooday]

7. I'm waiting for Abramoff to sing

Will he tell them that Bush knew the names of his children?

That Laura recorded a message supporting an Abramoff client? (Channel One)

This is all from a Texas Observer article that a DUer posted earlier . . .

[rodeodance]

11. The Time article had that in also (Jr. knowing Jacks twin kids names)

[okieinpain]

32. nah, abramoff won't sell out bush. for them it's party before country

family, and god.

[boobooday]

36. Yeah, that's what they say . . .

But so far, their actions have yet to live up to their lofty, noble rhetoric.

I guess the question is, how much trouble is Mr. Abramhoff in, and how independent are the prosecutors?

[Amonester]

62. And Pretzelnidential...

Pardons

No surprise. Not surprised at all.

:mad:

[rodeodance]

10. This is a new response-today--from the WH-had to respond to TIME art.

Time reported on its Web site Sunday that its staff members have seen at least six photos featuring Bush and Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his lobbying practices and has pledged to cooperate with investigators. They appeared to have been taken at White House functions, according to the reports.

The White House has acknowledged that Abramoff attended some events at the Executive Mansion, and spokeswoman Dana Perino said Sunday it's not surprising that the two would have met.

[boobooday]

17. "Not suprising the two would have met"

Gee, ya think? He was one of Bush's Pioneers.

I suppose Ann Richards introduced them.

[MercutioATC]

12. I'd have to see the photos.

I can take a picture with any two random people in the frame. That's not proof that they know each other.

There were 221 "Rangers" and 327 "Pioneers" in the 2004 election. http://www.tpj.org/page_view.jsp?pageid=203&pubid=85

I don't have a problem believing that he might not remember every one of them.

[rodeodance]

13. 4.3 stars, (87 votes)

Your Recommendation:

Average (87 votes)
4.3 stars

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. That's not what Bush said in 1999

when it came up has a campaign finance issue. He said all of the Pioneers were his friends then. It got him off the hook then, but now he doesn't even know some of them? Either way he's got a problem because either Jack is his friend or Bush lied to the FEC.

[MercutioATC]

42. I'd have to see the quote. We're dealing with specifics here...

...summaries of what Bush said aren't specific enough.

[DoYouEverWonder]

44. From CNN on 07/22/99

Election 2000 briefs

Will this do?



July 20, 1999
Web posted at: 3:00 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT)

Bush says 'Pioneers' are friends, not evading finance rules

AUSTIN, Texas (July 20) -- In an attempt to pacify accusations of evading finance limitations, GOP presidential front-runner George W. Bush released late Monday a list of the 115 people who have raised at least $100,000 for Bush's presidential effort.




A citizen group, Texans for Public Justice, asked the Texas governor for a list of the people, known as Pioneers, "who each pledged to bundle together for you at least 100 checks worth $1,000 apiece."

The group contends that the use of a small group of people to accumulate large sums of money is a way to get to circumvent laws that limit campaign contributions to $1,000 per individual.

At a news conference Monday, Bush described the "Pioneers" as a group of friends and political supporters. He said they are a grass-roots network and follow federal campaign finance laws.


http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/07/20/president.2000/briefs/

[MercutioATC]

46. Technically, he didn't say they were HIS friends...

...he said that they were "a group of friends". Bush is also describing 115 of the Pioneers, not all 327 of them. We don't know that Abramoff was on that list of 115.

[daleo]

53. The "his" is implied

That is how people talk.

"Who was that I saw you with last night?"
"Just a friend."

[MercutioATC]

65. He called them "a group of friends".

I could make the same statement about a tableful of people sitting across the room at a restaurant whether I personally knew them or not.

I don't think you're wrong, I'm just not comfortable making accusations without more proof of their having known each other.

[daleo]

66. Fair enough

I don't consider it an accusation, more of a speculation, just because this is an internet forum, not a court or anything. But I know some people are more careful than I am, and that's fine by me.

[Solly Mack]

14. "I. don't . recall" have got to be the most corrupted 3 words

of them all.

[leftchick]

15. Why Not use the old "I don't know that ken lay person defense"

it worked out super the last time. Not a fucking M$M reporter in sight pursued an investigation.

[RDANGELO]

16. I can't believe they are being this stupid.

They are not going to hide the extent of the relationship between Abromoff and the White House. Either they had Illegal dealings or they didn't. They really underestimate the intelligence of most of the American people.

[bkcc]

20. Why start telling the truth now?

Bald-faced lies have been the norm for 5 years and it keeps working, so they'll keep doing it until someone takes them to task.

The public's attention span is frighteningly short. The Bush Administration can say whatever they want because they'll just come up with a new story to distract attention away from this anyway.

[MissWaverly]

26. Here's what Jeb Bush says about telling the truth

Jeb once told retired Naval Intelligence Officer Al Martin (cited in Bushwhacked, Sept. 2002, by Uri Dowbenko)...

"The truth is useless. You have to understand this right now. You can't deposit the truth in a bank. You can't buy groceries with the truth. You can't pay rent with the truth. The truth is a useless commodity that will hang around your neck like an albatross -- all the way to the homeless shelter. And if you think that the million or so people in this country that are really interested in the truth about their government can support people who would tell them the truth, you got another thing coming. Because the million or so people in this country that are truly interested in the truth don't have any money."

[bkcc]

35. Sadly, it's all pretty true.

People are really sheep. Incidentally, that quote would be perfect for the Bush family crest, if they haven't added it already.

[MissWaverly]

38. well, we may not be the moneyed elite but we will never give up

Never give up, never give in, as far as the family crest goes, Bush should have used this
to be sworn in as the oath of office.

:-)

[rodeodance]

27. well. lots of stupid people believe him--so they do it.

[bkcc]

18. To be fair, Bush was probably drunk at the time.

How can he be expected to remember anything?

[UpInArms]

19. yeppers, we all just have no reason to doubt the

word of someone that probably has lost lots of brain cells due to alcohol and drug abuse :eyes:

[BR_Parkway]

21. Cost $10,000 to have picture made with Shrub - it's a common fund

raiser with him:

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/12/09_mccalluml_bushvisit/

Minneapolis, Minn. — About 800 people paid $1,000 each to attend the Kennedy fundraiser. For $10,000, they could have their picture taken with the president. Instead of a sit-down meal, they milled about, eating finger food in a ballroom at the Minneapolis Hilton.

or they had to prove how much cash they brought in:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0104/16bushvisit.html

The GWCC event raised $1.3 million, said organizer Jaime Reynolds. To have a picture taken with Bush at the fund-raiser, a Republican had to prove he'd raised $20,000 for the campaign.

[Doctor_J]

23. his lies get more and more ridiculous

I wonder what hate radio will have to say about this tomorrow.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. Yet Bush remembers the first plane hitting the World Trade Center

The first plane was never televised on the morning of September 11th, yet Bush stated that he saw it before he went into the classroom to read 'My Pet Goat' and was later told by Andrew Card that a second plane hit as well. What do they call it when someone remembers things they never saw and yet cannot remember things that did happen? Psychosis, maybe?


"...Thank you, Jordan. Well, Jordan, you're not going to believe what state I was in when I heard about the terrorist attack. I was in Florida. And my Chief of Staff, Andy Card -- actually, I was in a classroom talking about a reading program that works. I was sitting outside the classroom waiting to go in, and I saw an airplane hit the tower -- the TV was obviously on. And I used to fly, myself, and I said, well, there's one terrible pilot. I said, it must have been a horrible accident.

But I was whisked off there, I didn't have much time to think about it. And I was sitting in the classroom, and Andy Card, my Chief of Staff, who is sitting over here, walked in and said, "A second plane has hit the tower, America is under attack. ...""

[AndyTiedye]

56. Bushler Probably Had a Dedicated Video Feed

The first plane was never televised on the morning of September 11th, yet Bush stated that he saw it before he went into the classroom

If he says so, I believe him. They probably had their own video feed going to his car so he could watch the first plane go in.

[NV Whino]

25. So where are those 6 photos?

And why haven't we seen them?

[rodeodance]

29. the Washingtonian has them. 'in a safe place'--

[NV Whino]

30. I think that's pronounced...

"undisclosed location."

[mitchum]

31. Well, what do you expect from a fucking liar?

[HuffleClaw]

33. why do they even bother?

such blatant lies don't impress anyone. not even the rank and file of republicans.

[lovuian]

34. Another Lie by the Whitehous and Oh ya I remember now

Can it get any worse... Isn't this worse than Clinton's blue dress PLEASE!!!

[antonialee839]

40. As Laura Bush would say, this is just ridiculous.

How do you not remember a guy who raised a gazillion dollars for you?
What a freaking liar.

[NVMojo]

45. what about when Jack brought Coushattas Tribal Chairman in 2001?

Bush is a freaking liar! But you all knew that!

http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle_new.asp?ArticleID=13

[doc03]

47. He can't remember Kenny Boy either and no one can

remember serving with him in the ANG.

[MagickMuffin]

48. Bush and Abramoff, go way back to 1997

I posted this in the "Mystery firm linked to US lobbyist scandal" thread in LBN. The article is from the USA Today, that mentions Bush and Abramoff working together way back then. The article also mentions the over 200 meetings Jack had with White House officials in the first 10 months of the Coup d'etat.

The records from Abramoff's firm, obtained by The Associated Press from the Marianas under an open records request, chronicle Abramoff's careful cultivation of relations with Bush's political team as far back as 1997.

In that year, Abramoff charged the Marianas for getting then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush to write a letter expressing support for the Pacific territory's school choice proposal, his billing records show.

"I hope you will keep my office informed on the progress of this initiative," Bush wrote in a July 18, 1997, letter praising the islands' school plan and copying in an Abramoff deputy.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-06-abra...

Abramoff also helped to get Patrick Pizzella his job at the Labor Dept.

A newly discovered Senate lobbying record filed in 1997 (PDF file) lists Pizzella as "Director of Coalitions" for Chelsea Commercial, a purported Bahamas based organization lobbying for Russian trade liberalization. The Washington Post revealed last April that Chelsea Commercial appeared to have been little more than a front group for a Russian oil and gas company, Naftasib.

Chelsea Commercial, according to the Post, underwrote a trip taken by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) and Pizzella colleague Jack Abramoff by funneling money through a Washington nonprofit. The nonprofit paid for a trip taken by DeLay along with Abramoff and former DeLay aide Ed Buckham during which the lobbyists met with DeLay and key Russian officials.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Documents_show_extent_of_ties_between_0112.html




http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2058056&mesg_id=2058251

[goodboy]

50. well, at least reagan had an excuse...he had alzheimers..bush on the other

hand...well, he's just as dumb as a bag of hammers.

[NYC]

51. Alcoholic blackout.

I had a friend who had them. It's an excuse for not remembering.

[daleo]

52. Will these photos see the light of day?

Or will they be buried as deep as the torture photos that are being hidden right now?

[killbotfactory]

54. Part of the transition team, VERYgood friends of Delay, Reed, and Norquist

Was a "pioneer" for Bush...

But Bush doesn't remember him?

:rofl:

[buddysmellgood]

55. Check this out. It's a Yahoo "Most emailed story"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060122/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_abramoff_photos

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

59. Its Got Legs..AP via RMNews.Reports: Bush, Abramoff together in photos

Reports: Bush, Abramoff together in photos
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUSH_ABRAMOFF_PHOTOS?SITE=CODER&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-01-22-22-16-38;

[EFerrari]

61. He doesn't remember Jack? Gosh, that's a LOT of brain damage. n/t

[northzax]

63. please, Bush doesn't remember what he had for breakfast

he has a worse memory than Reagan.