Famous Last Words: "I don't testify." - GWB

[Stephanie]

Who the hell does this joker think he is? I predict THIS is the statement that will haunt Georgie. "I don't testify." Right. And I bet he thinks he doesn't get charged with crimes, or pay for them either.

"RUSSERT: Will you testify before the commission?

BUSH: This commission? You know, I don't testify. I mean, I will be glad to visit with them. I will be glad to share with them knowledge. I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some."

[K8-EEE]

1. What A Coincidence, I Also Thought That Was The WORST

I just sent that part of the transcript to a friend who asked what she missed. That strikes me as really arrogant, even for him...he don't TESTIFY? We'll see about that.

[Wickerman]

2. recommendations?

War criminals don't get to make recommendations, Georgie boy. Share your knowledge? THis is the man that thinks that free-spending and reduction in the revenue (tax cuts) is going to reduce the federal deficit. Yes, Georgie, we all need your knowledge soooo much

[lovedems]

3. Yep. He doesn't testify and he won't lose.

That chimp is awfully sure of himself isn't he? Oh well, he was within the confines of his cage having the interview in the oval office.

I think KKKarl is losing his touch because the chimp looked really bad from the few parts of the interview I saw. My husband and I sat curiously wondering how many people would actually think he looked pResidential???? God help the ones who did.

Edit: Stammering and stuttering are sure characteristics I look for in a Commander in Cheief! Ha, ha, ha, ha!

[diamond14]

4. IMO, that was the line......bush* will fall from his own words....like

most war criminals....bush* will hear the screams of the innocents that he ordered KILLED....those screams will echo through his mind forever.....and bush* will never be able to wash their blood off his hands....off to the Haig....WAR CRIMINALS all....


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1098728#1098751

[hlthe2b]

11. Sociopaths don't feel guilt or impact from the memory of their actions...

The only thing that will stir emotion in him, is self-pity when he loses and his party turns on him...

[calimary]

49. He doesn't want to testify because he doesn't DARE go under oath.

He knows he's screwed if he does.

[opihimoimoi]

67. Yup, he be fucked from the start.

[SammyWinstonJack]

62. I'm sure that Bush* just like his mother

doesn't waste his "beautiful mind" thinking of any deaths caused by him and him alone. Or if he does, well, we all know such thoughts only cause him to smirk more than usual.

[fleetus]

5. Missed the interview...

But damn, that statement is arrogant. This man truly believes he is holy.

[belle]

17. Shades of Leona Helmsley there.

"Taxes are for little people." I guess so is testifying, eh, George?

[unblock]

6. 'i don't testify' he's regurgitating the GROUND RULES

they got together and created this sham of a investigative commission, and they all said, ok, if we have to have a commission, what are the ground rules?

like, no subpoena power, no investigation of the white house, and NO TESTIFYING OF TOP OFFICIALS.

the moran-in-chief was just parrotting back the ground rules. 'i don't testify'. those are part of the instructions to the commission.

as in, "you investigate however you want, but you don't subpoena and i don't testify. got it?"

[rfranklin]

10. You pegged it!

This was another case of "leakage." People who constantly lie usually have little "accidents" which let out the truth. That's exactly what happened here.

[Stephanie]

14. I think he means it in the broadest context

He doesn't testify for this commission, or anyone else.

See, that's one of the interesting things about being President. I don't testify.

Just wait til they break it to him. He's going to be pissed.

[pinkpops]

7. Didn't Bush say something once before about

how him being the president he didn't have to say why he said this or that. I can't remember the exact phrase or context. The gist of it was all his advisors had to justify their thoughts but he didn't because he is the prez.

[Stephanie]

13. Yup - from Woodward's book

President Bush: "I do not need to explain why I say things. — That's the interesting thing about being the President. — Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/17/60minutes/main529657.shtml

The little prick.

[diamond14]

8. American Justice Jackson at the Nuremberg War Trials 1945

Statement by American Justice Jackson on Nuremberg War Trials Agreement; August 12, 1945


-snips-

There are some things I would like to say, particularly to the American people, about the agreement we have just signed.

For the first time, four of the most powerful nations have agreed not only upon the principles of liability for war crimes of persecution, but also upon the principle of individual responsibility for the crime of attacking the international peace.

Repeatedly, nations have united in abstract declarations that the launching of aggressive war is illegal. They have condemned it by treaty. But now we have the concrete application of these abstractions in a way which ought to make clear to the world that those who lead their nations into aggressive war face individual accountability for such acts.

We must make clear to the Germans that the wrong for which their fallen leaders are on trial is not that they lost the war, but that they started it. And we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into a trial of the causes of the war, for our position is that no grievances or policies will justify resort to aggressive war. It is utterly renounced and condemned as an instrument of policy.

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/imt/jack02.htm



The defendants being tried before the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg are seated in the prisoners' dock during a session of the trial (USHMM Photo).

[leesa]

43. Can you imagine how many dock's full of traitors we will have before

this is over? All the mainstream media whores, the entire WH , most of Congress, the Supremes, many Federal judges, .... better get to work.

[diamond14]

44. many went to PRISON for Watergate...which was a 'little' crime

of a failed third-rate breaking-and-entering....

ordering the KILLING of thousands, by aerial bombing a city of 6 million people, certainly rates much more serious....bush* is truly a WAR CRIMINAL and so are those who helped him in his KILLINGS....


for Watergate, as it all unraveled, some tried to keep out of PRISON by plea-bargains and pointing fingers at each other...

the shrub's crimes are now starting to catch up to him...some of his close associates have left, and recent book by Treasury Secretary O'Neill is particularly scathing for shrub....

watch for more to jump ship....

[Catshrink]

Is he saying that POTUS doesn't testify?

Well well, to him I would say: you neocon asshole. You're brethren set the precedent for this with the Big Dawg. So there. Nah nah nah nah.

Frog march anyone?

[Stephanie]

15. Frog march for sure

I have been holding my breath since July for the frog marching to commence out of this WH.

[OneTwentyoNine]

9. This idiot really thinks he's totally above the law...

Clinton has to testify over a blow job but killing over 500 in a trumped up Oil War and Bush says he doesn't do testifying.

Damn,if Dems don't latch onto this statement and use it till Nov then their out of their minds.

David

[buycitgo]

20. see......he won't ever be tried for the 500+

one can only hope that if he IS tried, it will be for the thousands and thousands of innocent Iraqis that he ordered slaughtered.

not holding breath, though

[Art_from_Ark]

12. Watergate redux

Nixon thought he was off the hook when his flunky, Elliot Richardson, appointed special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

[soup]

16. In all fairness

doing something I never thought I'd do-

The transcript 'reads' differently than actually enduring the interview.

----------------

Russert: Will you testify before the commission?

*Bush:
This commission?..... pause. come on brain, think of something to say
You know..... pause. fumble
I don't...... pause. fumble. blank look
Testify?..... pause lightbulbs click on - an 'answer' appears
I will be glad to visit with them... I will be glad to share with them knowledge... I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some.

----------------

Did I just defend *jr?! holy bazoley. Tombstone me - but please send me with a parka - it's frozen over.

Nah, not really a defending - more like clarifying.

The way the transcript reads is the truth. He wouldn't testify. The buck never stops with him.

But what he actually said does come across differently in print. Misses all the pauses, the missteps, the 'ums', the the-the-thes while he searched for the next word. Cleaning up his speech in this case does have its downside. Truth is revealed.

Don't hit me too hard, ok?

[Stephanie]

18. I'll listen again, but it struck me right away the first time

I heard it as a distinct phrase: I don't testify.

It sounded to me like a definitive statement, just as you might say 'I don't eat sugar' or 'I don't golf.'

[soup]

21. Please do. I sure wouldn't mind being wrong.

Is the audio/video available online?

[Stephanie]

22. Will check. But look, we have pix

the little prick

[Hubert Flottz]

63. A prick is a part of a man!

Unlike any of Bush's parts!

[Stephanie]

64. LOL - but look at how teensy weensy he is in that photo next to Potatohead

He's a teeny, tiny person, not just in stature.

And you just know he's overcompensating for a very teeny, tiny part of him that he wishes was more manly so he didn't have to stick a sock in it when he prances on aircraft carrier decks.

[Stephanie]

24. There's some video available here but I can't play it

Maybe someone else can listen to it, see if the quote's there:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/

[soup]

29. I must have the wrong media player.

Can't just launch it. grrr.

Did find the following text at the msnbc site. If 'don't--testify?' means 'major pause in between words followed by a one word question', it's what I thought I heard him say this morning.


Russert: Will you testify before the commission?
President Bush: This commission? You know, I don't‑‑testify? I will be glad to visit with them. I will be glad to share with them knowledge. I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4209295/#1

[Stephanie]

30. Slightly different in the full transcript, but with "?"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/

President Bush: This commission? You know, I don't testify? I will be glad to visit with them. I will be glad to share with them knowledge. I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some.

Still not the way I heard it. Some brave soul will listen to it for us.

[belle]

19. Okay, so he's drunk and/or brain dead instead of arrogant. Make that...

"as well as" arrogant. I'm glad to hear it, though. It'd be pathetic if it didn't affect all of us so much.

[soup]

23. I hear ya.

laugh until i cry until I rage until I laugh until I scream until I cry

[OneTwentyoNine]

31. He stumbles around but sure doesn't say he will testify......

He's such a *moran* that its hard to ever really understand the idiot,but seems to me that he could have easily said yes,I will testify to clear this up. Nope,said he'd talk to them and thats it.

David

[soup]

32. I AM WRONG.

Just heard it again on CNBC.

It's a little weird sounding. But it is much closer to 'You know, I don't testify.' than 'You know... I don't... Testify?'.

I am wrong. :spank:

Sorry. Carry on.

[Stephanie]

33. Yay! That's what I thought I heard - now I'd like to know

why these transcripts have the question mark. Not how it sounded.

[soup]

37. Sorry to be a pain about this.

Just wanted to make sure we weren't going to get clobbered for misrepresenting what was actually said.

The transcript was out before I watched it this morning. So I was following along, sort of checking to see if the transcript had been cleaned up before it was posted. I wonder if that double space between the words 'I don't testify' and the question mark after affected what I heard?

When it was replaying just now, it came out much more quickly and declarative than I remember.

He's such an Arrogant S.O.B.

[Stephanie]

40. I heard it this morning, and I copied the quote from TIA's thread

I'm wondering where TIA got his transcript, because it doesn't have the question mark.

[Stephanie]

41. Check it out! WaPo transcript, NO question mark:

RUSSERT: Will you testify before the commission?

BUSH: This commission? You know, I don't testify. I mean, I will be glad to visit with them. I will be glad to share with them knowledge. I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23218-2004Feb8.html

(p.s. - what does "I will be glad to share with them knowledge" mean???)

[soup]

46. FINALLY, found a video online.

Scroll down to:

Watch Meet The Press In The NBC 4 FeedRoom
You can now watch Meet The Press video on our new NBC 4 FeedRoom Channel.
http://www.nbc4.com/News/1166391/

Don't know how long they leave the videos up, and can't figure out if it's able to be downloaded and saved. But, yes - *he clearly says it.

"I don't testify."


(p.s. "I will be glad to share with them knowledge" makes about as much sense as, "Well, but what wasn't wrong was the fact that he had the ability to make a weapon. That wasn't right." IOW, your guess is as good as mine.)

[Stephanie]

54. So now I'm wondering, what's with the MTP transcript?

Why the "--" and the question mark? Did the WH get to edit the transcript?

[soup]

58. Makes me wonder, too.

Went to sleep with, "You know, I don't testify." and "I'm not going to lose." rolling in my mind.

[Stephanie]

68. kicking - transcript seems questionable

WaPo transcript and MSNBC transcript do not agree.

:kick:

[soup]

74. Link to other thread

on transcript discrepancies:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1102042#1103499

So much going on right now, I'm getting Way too scattered. Just want to make sure there's as much info gathered in one place for future reference as possible.

personal note: Good job, Stephanie. Thank you for staying on this. Well done, DUers. They're squirming and scrambling right now. Keep it up until they don't have an inch of wiggle room, then nail 'em to the wall.

[ComerPerro]

25. He doesn't have to testify. He is ordained by God. Remember?

Shit. Condi is going to testify before the 9/11 Comission, but she doesn't have to do so under oath. That was one of her demands.

They are giving her a free pass to lie her ass off.



But, this is why I hate Bush so fucking much. He is an arrogant son of a bitch. He already thinks he is a dictator. That god damned jerkoff has contempt for the people.

"I don't testify..."

What the fuck is that?

[Stephanie]

27. Me too. This is why I hate him.

Well, it's one of the reasons.

The little prick.

I don't testify.

I don't read the news. I have people for that.

I don't have to explain what I do. Other people may have to explain to me, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation.

[One Taste]

66. Do you have a link to that?

"Condi is going to testify before the 9/11 Comission, but she doesn't have to do so under oath. That was one of her demands."

Do you have a link showing that was one of her demands? Cause I'd love to show that to some of my conservative friends.:)

[proud patriot]

26. In other words

He won't be under oath ....Bastard ....:mad:

[Stephanie]

28. Why would that be HIS choice?

This is what I don't get. Don't we have laws? Does every reasonable check and balance go out the window when one party controls both WH and Congress? He just gets to do whatever he likes?

God, I can't wait for the Plame indictments to start rolling in. I want to see the frog marches!

[OneTwentyoNine]

34. That's exactly where Russert should have hit him with a follow up..

Wait Mr.rPresident...Did I understand you to say that you would not testify before the commission??

Are you really a report Timmy?? There was your chance and you freakin blew it!

David

[DemBones DemBones]

45. Russert a reporter? Surely you jest!

Yesterday, SoCalDem posted a link to a David Podvin article exploring Russert's obsequiousn perfidy as a GOP toady. If you missed it, here's the link:

http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/media/020109_Russert.htm

At the start of the article, Podvin recounts a conversation between Russert and a broadcast executive who was curious at how Russert had changed since he was a Democrat working for Daniel Moynihan.

“I still believe,” Russert said, leaning across the table. “I believe in everything I ever did. But I also know that I never would have become moderator on Meet The Press if my employers were uncomfortable with me. And, given the amount of money at stake, millions of dollars, I don’t blame them. This is business.”

The executive agreed. “But are you concerned about losing yourself? You know, selling out?”

Russert pounded the table. “Integrity is for paupers!”

Later in the article, Podvin reveals:

"The spectacular rewards of manipulating the public for GE were realized in 2001, when Russert received a new contract worth tens of millions of dollars. The wages of sin have been huge, while the cost has been the negligible loss of whatever integrity he might have once possessed. He is not an objective journalist; he is a partisan deceiver. He exaggerates Democratic wrongdoing, going to the extreme of inventing criminal behavior. Conversely, he has been unrelentingly oblivious to all Republican scandals; his infinite fascination with the missing intern in the case of Democrat Gary Condit was accompanied by total disinterest in the dead intern who was found on the office floor of Republican Joe Scarbrough. Russert spent years obsessing about an ill fated land deal called Whitewater that involved a couple of hundred thousand dollars, but he remains indifferent to the multi-trillion dollar taxpayer funded kickbacks that George W. Bush has been ladling out to his campaign contributors."



We are being both ruled and reported to by people without souls. Some were born with this defieciency, but many simply sold theirs to the Devil.

[CO Liberal]

35. And He Doesn't Go to Super Max Either.....Right???

:-)

[Stephanie]

36. Aside from the irrational arrogance of this remark, what I really want

is to see the day when he DOES have to testify. It should be coming shortly. I'm hoping it's before November. If not, then the new Dem admin will at the least have to start over on the 9/11 investigation, and he should be testifying before that, in leg irons.

[AVID]

38. agreed

of all the smirking remarks, that one pinged my conscience the most.

Who the hell does he think he is????

GOD?

Oh yea. . . its gwb*

[Stephanie]

39. Hey bigsky!

I'm from Helena! :hi:

[leesa]

42. That's right. He doesn't have to answer any questions, remember?

He is God.

[Zo Zig]

47. Follow up question, Tim?

Why didn't Timmy follow-up with, will the VP testify?

VP is the weakest link.

Use this statement to distant Bush, from the admin., divide them into an every man for himself mode. Pound on this statement, ask everyone if they will testify.

Focus on the VP, with Plume, Iraq, 9/11, Haliburton, energy docs, links to OSP, INC, Newt, Woolsey, Pearle. All roads lead to Dick, break him. Dick is the weakest link, the admin. fear him because he is their greatest liability. If Dick goes, they all go.

[Dr Fate]

48. And Clinton had to go under oath based on SEX accusations????

WTF????

[Doctor_J]

50. The logical next step

He picks the commission that's going to investigate HIM, now he's going to advise them. It's good to be King.

[opihimoimoi]

51. LOL, the Madman calls Saddam a madman,,,, ROTFLMAO

[grasswire]

53. I saw two talking heads...

....say the same thing today.

C. Boyden Grey on FOX: Presidents don't testify.

Can't remember the name of the other one -- a Congressman maybe. He said "Presidents don't testify."

So (again) what was that Clinton was compelled to do?

[Stephanie]

55. Remember when they dragged Hillary in to testify?

I don't even remember what for -

[Norquist Nemesis]

52. Testify!?! Why?

It's a whitewash with all of the members appointed by Bush. The thought never occurred to him that he might be asked to testify. Why should it?

[Kickin_Donkey]

56. After Bush is thrown out on his ear in November ...

he'll be known for a trifecta, if you will, of Famous Last Words:

"I don't testify."

"I won't lose."

"Bring 'em on."

Reminds me of his pappy's Last Words: "Read my lips: no new taxes."

[Stephanie]

61. yeah - must be genetic

Welcome to DU, Kickin _Donkey!

[dmr]

57. Imagine President Clinton saying that to Ken Starr

Wouldn't that have gone over well. :evilgrin:

[dusty64]

59. He knows its a complete sham

and he will never be asked to testify. Afterall, he DID appoint all the members didn't he. This whitewash ought to be provoking outrage, but I really haven't seen any. Have any of the Democratic Presidential candidate even addressed this?

[laylah]

60. I wonder how the hypocritical

bastards would have responded had Pres. Clinton informed the nation that HE doesn't testify? Gawwwwwwwwd forgive me but I hate that man :puke:

Jenn

[GreenPartyVoter]

65. He testifies his "faith" all the time

What a jerk.

[Oilwellian]

69. This is an excellent thread

Well worth a kick and I highly recommend everyone read the various posts. Thanks fellow DU'ers for a very interesting read.

Oh, and, we shall see the petulant child marched to the witness stand.

:kick:

[Hubert Flottz]

70. No One, IS, above the law!

So said the Republican headhunters during the Clinton impeachment! Are they every one liars? I repeat Y'all decide!

Clinton couldn't get out of being placed under oath for a trivial matter, so why should Bush be immune on a grave matter such as the Nazis committed in World War II? That being genocide and waging aggressive war for profit!

[maddezmom]

71. those are the words that struck me, too

the way it comes off is he's above all that kind of stuff. :puke:

[9215]

72. Ambiguity here.

This phrase could be read different ways and, IMHO, is designed as a red herring. Bush could later clarify that he doesn't testify as per pre-agreement/ the process in place.

To much wiggle room for Bush on this one.

[Stephanie]

73. Well, reading it is one thing and listening to him say it is another

Try to watch the video. It's his dismissive tone and his arrogance that really underscores the statement. This little creep thinks he's above the law.

[loudsue]

75. Someone on each campaign needs to get this thread to the

Democratic presidential candidates, and they ALL need to start hammering on this...and mention the double standard that was imposed on Clinton.

Kerry has called on powerful people to "testify" for several high level investigations. I wonder how he feels about this little quip by bush.

If the Democratic candidates say it NOW, it will have legs, since they are getting a modicum of press at the moment.

SIEZE THE MOMENT!! Tell the campaigns!!!

:kick: