WH Press to McClellan: "Do you know how vague you sound?"

[Paragon]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040706-3.html

...Q Does the President feel that he had enough information about weapons to take this nation to war?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think you heard directly from the President earlier today in the Oval Office, following his meeting with Prime Minister Oddsson. The President talked about how Saddam Hussein was a threat. It was a threat that was real --

Q -- was a threat how?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we have learned since going into Iraq and removing that regime from power that the regime certainly had the intent and capability when it comes to weapons of mass destruction --

Q What do you mean by intent?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the Iraq Survey Group, that was previously headed by David Kay and is now headed by Charles Duelfer, has looked into the issues and showed that Saddam Hussein was in serious and clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. That resolution, you'll recall, called for serious consequences if Saddam Hussein --

Q It didn't call for war.

MR. McCLELLAN: It gave him one final opportunity to comply, or face serious consequences if he continued to defy the international community. And the world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power.

Q Do you know how vague you sound on that?

MR. McCLELLAN: And you heard that directly from the President of the United States earlier today.

(signalling next questioner) Go ahead, John....

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

1. Aah, Scottie...like a small child lost in a shopping mall.

Sometimes, when he's giving a press briefing, you want to just buy him an ice cream cone and call his mommy.

How bad do you have to be at your job to make Ari Fleischer seem the BETTER man?

:evilgrin:

[against all enemies]

2. Fleischer was the better whore. Scotty is the better man.

He seems to have some guilt about his lies, Ari loved telling them.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

3. Excellent point.

That probably is the difference between the two...a conscience.

:toast:

[John_H]

7. I wish I could agree. They both love to lie, Ari was just better.

[against all enemies]

8. OK, they're both whores, Ari is the better one!

[Still_Loves_John]

4. See, I think that makes him worse

Ari was such an ass that people could really channel their hatred toward him, and he looked smarmy when they showed clips on the news. McClellan is so low key that he rarely ever shows up in soundbytes, and when he does he sounds so innocuous that it doesn't matter.

On the subject of the press corps, it seems like their finding themselves again. On the CNN piece on how the press treats the White House, they had John King talking about how restrictive they are. Nothing major, but when John freakin' King starts criticising the White House, the tide is turning.

[against all enemies]

5. When the White House Press Corp runs

into Helen Thomas, can they look her in the eye? Positively fourth street.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. Must be a new WH press reporter.

Poor guy will be in the back row come midnight.

[Career Prole]

9. Scotty called the questioner "Helen"...

Was it Helen Thomas? Anyone know? I thought she'd "hung up her spikes"? If it wasn't actually Helen Thomas, it was sure someone inspired by her. :)

[faithnotgreed]

10. yes it was dear helen thomas. the transcript is floating around here

somewhere or even in a couple threads actually

[Career Prole]

11. Thanks for confirming that!

It's great to know she's still looking out for us! :hi: