Pelosi Criticizes Decision to Have Bush and Cheney Appear Together

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAI1LGQKSD.html

Pelosi Criticizes Decision to Have Bush and Cheney Appear Together

By Erica Werner Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 2, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says it's baffling and embarrassing that President Bush is appearing before the Sept. 11 commission with Vice President Dick Cheney at his side instead of by himself.

"I think it speaks to the lack of confidence that the administration has in the president going forth alone, period," Pelosi, D-Calif., said Friday. "It's embarrassing to the president of the United States that they won't let him go in without holding the hand of the vice president of the United States."

"I think it reinforces the idea that the president cannot go it alone," she said. "The president should stand tall, walk in the room himself and answer the questions." <snip>

Pelosi made her comments during a discussion with several reporters. She also said it was unfortunate that national security adviser Condoleezza Rice is giving her commission testimony next Thursday, when the House won't be in session.

"I think it should've happened much sooner," she said.

AP-ES-04-02-04 1531EST

[TroglodyteScholar]

1. Go Nancy, go Nancy! eom

[Homer12]

2. "I'm scared Dick, please hold my hand

While the scary men ask me questions?"

GW Bush to Cheney last week.

[Beetwasher]

21. The BIG Questions EVERYONE Wants To Know The Answers To!

Does Dick hold the Chimps dick when he pisses and wipe his ass too?

[snippy]

27. I think Bush polls on whether to wipe.

So it probably would be Turd Blossom Rove's job rather than Cheney's.

[ochazuke]

49. That's the right angle

Attack his manhood and all that cowboy crap. Like:

"Bush should face the commission alone, like a man."

"A real man wouldn't need someone there to make sure he didn't say something stupid."

[Occulus]

55. And right there

you've turned the entire southern half of the country, minus CA, away from *.

Yes, it really is that easy with a lot of people.

[Cocoa]

3. Bush in a tough spot

his testifying alone is probably at least as distasteful as Condi testifying at all.

Meanwhile, he's a laughingstock. Leno said it was like Bush having a learner's permit for being president.

[mac56]

4. If Leno is bashing Dubya -

that's saying something.

I think the images of Dubya testifying with Unca Dick sitting right next to him will do wonders to show people that he's not in charge, he can't think for himself, he's a tool. A picture is worth a thousand words.

[Nashyra]

7. Commercial time

We need a commercial saying the * is not a leader because he is afraid to "testify alone, under oath and in public"

[tandot]

9. "like Bush having a learner's permit for being president" - LMAO

You think they'll hold hands when they walk into the room?

Dubya is a joke. He is not even man enough to confront the 9/11 commission by himself. He needs Dick there for emotional support (and to help him when he runs out of lies).

[CaptainClark23]

12. False perspective

shrub isn't calling the shots. he doesn't get to decide what to do and when to do it. he's got his marching orders. nor does he come up with his own lies. they are scripted and fed to him. usually through an earpiece.

this is cheney's show. it is cheney who is going to make sure that Bush doesn't blow the whole fucking setup.

frankly, I think Bush is irrelevant except as a symbol. making him the focus of attack is useful only so we can get the neo-cons out.

by himself, he is pathetic and harmless.

[yardwork]

30. Bush is the figurehead.

It's his "born-again" message that pulls in the evangelical fundamentalist Christians. Without W, they don't have any reason to believe in this administration. They're the largest voting bloc supporting W.

It's going to be difficult to convince the evangelicals that W is a liar, but it's the way to go. That's all we really have to do - demonstrate that W is a liar and Kerry is more reliable.

[leesa]

38. He's not harmless. He is a criminal and knows what's going on

But he's the stupid thug who has loose lips. Don't give him the benefit of the "too stupid to know what's going on" defense. He knows what's going on.

[CaptainClark23]

46. True enough

He is equally complicit and culpable for his role in the charade. Moreso, given the responsibilities of the office of POTUS.

Simply saying he hasn't the facilities to do such harm by his own devices.

[aquart]

52. Stop giving Barbara's son a pass.

She raised a perfectly competent monster. He is excellent at being monstrous.

[aquart]

51. No, he is NOT harmless.

Nor do I for one second buy pathetic as a description of someone so pathologically heartless.

Even as a figurehead, he could have done some good somewhere, just for show, but he wouldn't. Not one single thing. Not one.

[lolly]

44. Need to keep their stories straight

It's probably more a case of avoiding a perjury trap than anything else. If they go in separately, they may not know the answers each one gave and may contradict each other.

In jury trials, don't witnesses have to stay outside the court when another witness is testifying so that their testimony isn't tainted by hearing what another witness said?

[livetohike]

5. Finally!

Someone speaks out. Go Nancy! Thank you for saying something.

[central scrutinizer]

6. like shooting fish in a barrel

could these clowns be more obvious. Even the Murkans with blinders on will eventually be able to see through their shit.

[robnycny]

8. Holding his hand!

LOL! This one's a keeper! Go Pelosi!

[Beetwasher]

10. A REAL Man Would Be Able to Face the Commission On His Own

'nuff said.

[calimary]

41. I sense another buzz-phrase - borrowing from

Real Men Eat (or Don't Eat) Quiche.

Real Men Testify Alone.

Or maybe Real Men Don't Need Help Testifying.

[lostnfound]

56. W: No Cojones without Richard (Cleaned up version, must translate) nt

[calimary]

59. OH MY! Applause!

[denverbill]

11. Can you imagine Clinton having Gore go with him?

Sorry, but either one of those two would have gone on their own. Bush is too damned stupid to tie his shoes alone, let alone testify under oath. Inevitably, he'd make some enormous gaffe.

I can't wait to see this. Bush will pretend like he's getting ready to answer a question, and inevitably, defer every time to Cheney.

[LibDemAlways]

22. If Clinton had ever tried to pull a stunt like this

he'd have been laughed out of Washington. The whores are ignoring this because it's so damn embarrassing and indefensible. The sad and sorry truth is that the moron is so "out of the loop" (Cheney's own words) that he couldn't intelligently answer a single question. He'll sit there looking like a dolt while Cheney lies through his snarly lips in response to each and every question.

Absolutely amazing that we have a guy in the WH who is so dumb that he can't appear by himself to answer the commission's questions-- and millions of people are even dumber not to see though the charade.

[Occulus]

63. I've read Clarke's book

and he states, emphatically, that Bush is not dumb, a dim bulb, or anything of the kind.

This only leaves one possibility as to why Cheney is going to testify alongside Bush: the two have something to hide and they need to make sure their stories agree.

For once, the assumption that * is NOT dumb actually works in our favor. Imagine.

[BrotherBuzz]

34. That's the big rub...

We don't get to see it because it's behind closed doors - no tape, no transcript, no nothing!. For once, I would love to be a fly on the wall. For all we know, Bush* will just sit quietly in the corner practicing with his new coloring book "Stay within the lines, stay within the lines..." while Uncle Dicky cleans up the mess.

[MetaTrope]

53. With any luck, there will be LOTS of "flies" on those walls

And the recordings will be on the web within days.

[BrotherBuzz]

54. Wouldn't that be grand

Hey, it could happen. There must be quite a few pissed techno wizards from the CIA right about now. Hmmm, could happen.

[74dodgedart]

13. Real "Presidential"

Obviously a man of great courage...</sarcasm>

[Hobarticus]

14. Needed to be said...

And it's completely indefensible. Why can't he go it alone? He can strut across the deck of a carrier for a photo op, alone. What a chickenshit.

I can't wait to beat up my neo-con friends over this.

[phantom power]

15. Bush would lose his temper

I bet that Bush wouldn't be able to keep his cool under sustained questioning. Even with Cheney, they wouldn't let him testify in public. Video of Bush cracking under pressure would be kryptonite for his campaign.

[rocktivity]

16. Oh, good--I thought I was the only one who had a problem with it

It's about time a Dem spoke up. He can lie through his teeth, have Cheney at his side, not be called to testify again, and we're supposed to be proud of that?

From buzzflash:


:headbang:
rocknation

[Malva Zebrina]

17. George Bush

the lame fuck president

[R Hickey]

18. Cheney will talk without moving his lips, while Georgie sits on his knee

It's going to be a ventriloquist act.

[snippy]

28. Butt where does Cheney insert his hand?

[Jazzgirl]

62. Up his a**

n/t

[DBoon]

19. attack his manliness!!

Way to go - get him where it hurts!

[radfringe]

20. they kinda have to appear together

[leftchick]

23. Like Richard Clarke said today on AA...

bush* was "dis-engaged" from what was going on around him! He needs unka dick to tell what happened because he did not notice!

[Democat]

24. Call Pelosi and encourage her for making these great comments!

CA [phone]
DC [phone]

We need to encourage Democrats who speak out about Republicans!

[calimary]

42. SUPERB suggestion. And while you're at it...

(FROM DUer bigtree – 3/2004) Use the responses to strike back at the attacks, here and elsewhere.

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[osh]

25. Can't wait for Poppy and Babs to defend their "boy" on this!

I hope Poppy tells Pelosi to leave young George alone. It would be perfect.

Is Dubya the wimpiest pResident ever, or what?

[TEXASYANKEE]

26. That goes without saying!

And welcome to DU!! :-)

[snippy]

29. Reminds me of "Take Your Child to Work Day."

If Clinton had done something like this, the republican party would have blanketed all of the media with jokes and insults for weeks and eventually people who never vote and never follow politics would have been ridiculing Clinton for it. We would still be hearing about it. This illustrates a major difference between the two parties media operations.

[papau]

36. LOL :-)

:-)

[calimary]

60. Oh, Dear God, that's WUNNNderful! "Take Your Child To Work Day!"

An appropriate title for that day. Great one!

[The_Casual_Observer]

31. It appears that chimp's performance is much too important

to allow him to try & go it alone, thus the need for crutch.

Funny how the other day, when it was announced, the WH was packaging and selling this like the committee was getting a real bargain, that is was even better than separate. NPR reported it like the committee got the best of them!

[Marvel]

32. What it does (hopefully) is

this makes it clear to a few more Americans what a sham this administration is and where the REAL power lies, and it ain't in the "man" they "elected."

[MikeG]

33. As a reward for having cajones, Pelosi for Veep!!

[koopie57]

35. Pelosi is right

it is embarrassing and it isn't even funny really, it is just pathetic. And I wonder what the rest of the republican leadership thinks of this? It must be humiliating.

[Dr Fate]

37. These are fantastic talking points to circulate!

n/t

[henslee]

39. Are THEY gonna hold hands? Wah!!!!!!! eom

[leesa]

40. I will never understand what the RW macho Neanderthals see in this wimp!

He's the biggest cowardly powderpuff I have ever seen! The First Cheerleader!

[Generator]

43. I want to hear the reason he needs Cheney there from his own mouth!

Cowardly puff boy indeed! What is up that the media gives this a pass too??? Testify together? And the commission agreed. It's an obvious thing to criticize, there is no justification for this. I want a justification. I want to hear them say the "need each other" to be able to know what they did and why!

[shanti]

45. this shows how important *ush's testimony is

so important that they would risk, no, defy, humiliation. interesting that it comes out on a friday...as usual.

[MetaTrope]

57. We can only hope that the commission KNOWS SOMETHING

That they have information from other sources which will simultaneously string both Bush and Cheney up by the balls when they contradict it together. Those recordings from the CIA maybe?

[pinniped]

47. Dumb and Dumber.

nt

[osaMABUSh]

48. The Charlie McCarthy Hearings

CHARLIE MCCARTHY HEARINGS- (Will Dick Cheney's lips move when Pres. Bush talks?)

By Maureen Dowd

Published: April 1, 2004

Following is the text of a letter sent yesterday to Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton of the Sept. 11 commission from Alberto R. Gonzales, counsel to President Bush.

While we continue to hold to the principles underlying the Constitutional separation of powers, that the appropriate and patriotic action for the Commission is to shut down and stop pestering us, the President is prepared, in the interest of comity and popularity, to testify, subject to the conditions set forth below.

The President at all times, even on trips to the men's room, will be
accompanied by the Vice President.

The Commission must agree in writing that it will not pose any questions directly to the President. Mr. Bush's statements will be restricted to asides on Dick Cheney's brushoffs, as in "Just like he said," "Roger that" and "Ditto."

Another necessary condition, in keeping with the tenets of executive
privilege: Mr. Cheney will require that the Commission observe the rules of his favorite show from the Eisenhower Administration, "What's My Line?" The panelists, in the manner of Dorothy Kilgallen and Bennett Cerf, must try to guess what the President and Vice President didn't know and when they didn't know it through questions that elicit a "yes" or "no."

After 10 "no" answers, the panel will not be allowed to question Mr. Cheney or anyone else in the Administration ever again. In the mystery-guest round, Richard Ben-Veniste, Bob Kerrey and other Democrats on the Commission will be blindfolded.

(Or Mr. Cheney is willing to follow the precedent of Garry Moore and Bess Meyerson, using "I've Got A Secret" rules: The Vice President will whisper a secret about the Administration's inadequate response to terrorism in the President's ear and each panelist will have 30 seconds to question Mr. Cheney in an attempt to guess the secret, which he will not reveal even if they guess right.)

As an additional accommodation, the President and Vice President have now agreed to take a "pinkie oath," looping little fingers with each other, while reserving the right to cross the index and middle fingers of their remaining hands and hide them behind their backs.

We must deny your request that Mr. Cheney bring along a PowerPoint
presentation depicting who was in and out of the loop, in accordance with separation-of-PowerPoint principles. The Vice President has decreed that the loop of influence is under the cone of silence.

The White House is taking the extraordinary step of bowing to public
opinion even though Mr. Cheney states that he doesn't give two hoots about public opinion. Therefore, the Vice President will only entertain questions about negligence in fighting terrorism concerning the critical period between Jan. 21, 1993, and Jan. 20, 2001. As President Bush stated on Tuesday, March 30, the Commission must gain "a complete picture of the months and years before Sept. 11."

The Vice President will not address any queries about why no one reacted to George Tenet's daily "hair on fire" alarms to the President about a coming Al Qaeda attack; or why the President was so consumed with chopping and burning cedar on his Crawford ranch that he ignored the warning in an Aug. 6, 2001, briefing that Al Qaeda might try to hijack aircraft; or why the President asked for a plan to combat Al Qaeda in May and then never followed up while Richard Clarke's aggressive plan was suffocated by second-raters; or why the President was never briefed by his counterterrorism chief on anything but cybersecurity until Sept. 11; or why the Administration-in-amber made so many cold war assumptions, such as thinking that terrorists had to be sponsored by a state even as terrorists
had taken over a state; or why the President went along with the Vice
President and the neocons to fool the American public into believing that Saddam had a hand in the 9/11 attacks; or why the Administration chose to undercut the war on terrorism and inflame the Arab world by attacking Iraq, without a plan to protect our perilously overextended forces or to exit with a realistic hope that a democracy will be left behind.

The Commission must not, under any circumstances, ask the Vice President why American soldiers and civilians in Iraq are being greeted with barbarous infernos rather than flowery bouquets.

Finally, we request that when the President finishes with this painful teeth-pulling visit, the Commission shall offer him a lollipop.

E-mail: [e-mail]

[BattyDem]

50. Did ya ever notice ...

that Pelosi has more balls than all the Dem guys put together!

[SmokeyBlues]

58. Wait, wait don't tell me!

The host and celebrity guests on the NPR radio program 'Wait, wait don't tell me' had a field day with this upcoming 'event'. They went on for a while with jokes/comments asking 'how many chairs will be needed for *hole and Cheney', and 'the crucial moment will come when Cheney drinks a glass of water while *hole is speaking'.

The audience was howling with laughter!

[bpilgrim]

61. the Wizard of Oz letter

Bush pulls back the curtain on who really runs the White House

WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Eleanor Clift
Newsweek
Updated: 1:50 p.m. ET April 02, 2004

April 2 - This was the week the curtain got pulled back on the Bush presidency. In exchange for allowing Condoleezza Rice to testify under oath, President Bush gets to bring along his vice president when he appears privately before the commission.

more...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4653858/

peace

[gristy]

65. Outstanding article

I am continually amazed. From the Newsweek article:

A top Republican strategist dubbed the legal document striking the unusual deal "the Wizard of Oz letter" because it strips away the myth that Bush is in charge.

...nobody with a straight face can deny Cheney is a co-president or worse, the puppeteer who pulls Bush's strings.

...the arrangement confirms Bush's inability to articulate anything without a script--or a tutor by his side.

This is a defining moment in the Bush presidency because it reveals weakness at the top.

...the myth they have created since 9/11 of a war president astride the world stage.

[0007]

64. Do junior & cheney testify next Thursday, same day as Condi?

Cuz I sure don't want to miss the show.

[JohnyCanuck]

66. You can ask the President anything

You can ask the President anything, just don't mention the war on terrorism.

By Maureen Dowd


The following is the text of a letter sent on Wednesday to Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, of the September 11 commission, from Alberto Gonzales, counsel to President George Bush.

"While we continue to hold to the principles underlying the constitutional separation of powers, that the appropriate and patriotic action for the commission is to shut down and stop pestering us, the President is prepared, in the interest of comity and popularity, to testify, subject to the conditions set forth below.

"The President at all times, even on trips to the men's room, will be accompanied by the Vice-President.

"The commission must agree in writing that it will not pose any questions directly to the President. Mr Bush's statements will be restricted to asides on Dick Cheney's brush-offs, as in 'Just like he said', 'Roger that' and 'Ditto'

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544688789.html