Scottie Roast on CSPAN@ in 10...9...8...

[elehhhhna]

See ya there!

[soothsayer]

1. CSPAN site sez it's on CSPAN 2 at 12:30 (it's now 12:31)

[CottonBear]

169. Delete. reposted down thread.

[acmavm]

2. I really hate to miss this one. Damn, too bad I have to work. I

wonder if things will get ugly. Snotty has a tendency lately of not playing nicey nicey when backed into a corner.

[CottonBear]

196. We posted all highlights (or lowlights) for your reading pleasure. n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Almost ready...

:popcorn:

[soothsayer]

4. CSPAN 2 is showing the press room now! No scotty yet. (12:32)

[elehhhhna]

5. I can hear him, faintly, offstage, crying and begging not to go out there.

[rodeodance]

9. a reporter should give him a lollypop when he is done

[elehhhhna]

13. Have you noticed thatthis is just as informative as all his OTHER pressers

[rodeodance]

6. cnn just said 'shortly" It is 11: 35 CT here.

[rodeodance]

7. but i thought i heard it was Iraq.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Wonder if David Gregory has been un-neutered for this one!

please, please, please

Whoops! Back to WJ for a few minutes....

Mute on to by-pass Scottyspin and holding

:bounce:

[rodeodance]

10. I have seen so many many shows dissing the WH press for the Cheney

problem.

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. Mary Matalain: "you went on a JIHAD, David!"

scumsucking, evilpromoting, nasty, despicable B*tch!

[Rose Siding]

16. And then she slammed him for even NOTICING her hateful language

She's toxic.

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. Back and forth, Back and forth...grr!

He's probably passing out the questions for Faux reports and Les

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. that podium looks more honest without scottie standing there.

I remember when they actually held press conferences, not spin control. Remember when the spokespeople used to say, "I don't know, and I'll get back to you." and they actually got back to the press?

No longer.

Ever wonder how scottie sleeps at night?

[soothsayer]

15. He's on! 12:44 eastern

[Norquist Nemesis]

19. Sweating bullets already!

:rofl:

[CottonBear]

17. Link:

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan2_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2

White House link (sucks, bad sound, they don't show or ID the journalists, only use if you can't get CSPAN2 livestream)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

[Rose Siding]

23. Thanks

You're too good to me :)

[CottonBear]

27. You're welcome! I always include a link w/ a Scotty BBQ post. n/t

[rodeodance]

18. "Lessons Learned"--WH Katrina report released per Scott.

[rodeodance]

20. says WH will be partners to fix the problems.

[rodeodance]

22. Report to be released at 9 am Thrus.

[soothsayer]

21. Prez starting to prepare for the coming hurricane season.

Shurrrrr he is.

[rodeodance]

25. WH does not like to look at the past--forward march.

[Lochloosa]

24. Does he really think he's going to get questions about

Katrina? Pleazzzzzzzzz

[soothsayer]

26. Prez extends his condolences to iraqis for mosque bombing.

[janx]

58. All 29 of them?

Does Scottie mention that? :shrug:

[Norquist Nemesis]

28. Now the insurgent/guerillas/(sunnis) are terrorists

:shrug:

[Rose Siding]

29. Condolences to Iraq

heartfelt :eyes:

[w8liftinglady]

30. president wasn't made aware re: the port decision

[w8liftinglady]

34. "CFIUS" closely reviewing this...

he neglects to mention that the pres is a part of this

[Catchawave]

31. Bush unaware ports decision first question !

[CottonBear]

32. "We'll work w/ the people of Iraq to restore Golden Mosque."

(But we'll screw NOLA and Gulf Coast.)

[Norquist Nemesis]

33. CFIUS is a "congressionally mandated" process

And yet, Congress apparently didn't have a clue?

[Norquist Nemesis]

36. Now he's blaming the media for the uproar!

"there's been some coverage" "false impressions"

[w8liftinglady]

37. neither did rumsfeld

[Whoa_Nelly]

134. About CFIUS (interesting)

<snip>
CFIUS

Executive Order. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") was originally established by Executive Order 11858 in 1975 mainly to monitor and evaluate the impact of foreign investment in the United States. In 1988, the President, pursuant to Executive Order 12661, delegated to CFIUS his responsibilities under Section 721. Specifically, E.O. 12661 designated CFIUS to receive notices of foreign acquisitions of U.S. companies, to determine whether a particular acquisition has national security issues sufficient to warrant an investigation and to undertake an investigation, if necessary, under the Exon-Florio provision. This order also provides for CFIUS to submit a report and recommendation to the President at the conclusion of an investigation.

In 1993, in response to a sense of Congress resolution, CFIUS membership was expanded by Executive Order 12860 to include the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. In February 2003, the Department of Homeland Security was added to CFIUS. This brought the membership of CFIUS to twelve under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Treasury. The other members are the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Commerce, the Attorney General, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.


http://www.treas.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon-florio/

[Norquist Nemesis]

197. Hmmm...so where's that "Congressional Mandate"???

Good catch!

[Whoa_Nelly]

198. That's what I was looking for

and was hoping someone else may find what I could not.

[Lochloosa]

35. Blaming congress for the ports now...

review process.

[Lochloosa]

38. And of course "no one objected"

[w8liftinglady]

41. look at the facts..which are classified

[Norquist Nemesis]

42. Blaming the media

"press coverage"

[soothsayer]

39. Q. Does the prez wish he'd learned of the port decision earlier?

A. Congressionally mandated review process (committee on foreign investment in US) and they thoroughly review these transactions to make sure they meet all national security concerns. THoroughly scrutinized. No one objected. Now we have seen some concerns expressed from cogress and others, and that's understandable given that it looks like an arab company is in control of our ports, but that's a false impression. In hindsight we prolly should have briefed members of congress sooner. When you look at the facts it should be clear that all the national security issues were addressed. that is our top concern.

[Rose Siding]

40. Here's the exec order on CIFUS that he's talking about

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/11858.html

HOWEVER, it implies bush should have already known, AND rumsfeld, being a voting member of the committee, and all.

[CottonBear]

43. Scotty calling it an "Arab company", not saying owned by UAE gov't.

"We should ahve briefed members of congress sooner."

[Norquist Nemesis]

46. Well, he has to *ahem* correct the false impressions

:puke:

[converted_democrat]

I can't stand Scottie.. He reminds me of ever suck up I've ever met.n/t

[CottonBear]

48. Scotty is a supreme "suck up." "He is confident in congressional process

which was put in place...one thing in mind...security concerns...Congress probably should have been briefed on this sooner."

WTF? It's a congressional process but we should have briefed congress sooner? Did congress know or not? :(

[converted_democrat]

57. Pelosi came out from the start and stated that she had never heard

about this.. They're just trying duck responsibility once again..

[stanwyck]

150. He's a hall monitor

chosen by the principal because he's tofu. He takes on the flavor of the stronger element. And on his own...nothing. Just white spongemeat.

[converted_democrat]

44. Dupe, sorry..n/t

[soothsayer]

45. Q. So does he wish he'd learned of it sooner?

A. (answering something that does not address the question---blah blah blah about the review process)

[Rose Siding]

47. If each one ok'ed it, why hadn't rumsfeld even HEARD of it?

ask ask ask ask

[Norquist Nemesis]

New TalkingPoint: "FALSE IMPRESSION"

aaaaaarrrrrgggggghhh!!!!!!!!

[soothsayer]

49. A. This is not about control of our ports, not about the security of

our ports. One thing we would never do is turn over security to anyone, even Dubai. The coast guard and border control and customs remain in charge.

[CottonBear]

55. "The president doesn't view this as a political issue" in response to DG

"The UAE is a stong ally in the war on terrorism..."

[CottonBear]

50. "This is not about control or security of our ports." WTF? n/t

[w8liftinglady]

51. bel;ieves all issues were covered-including how much$$$

[flobee1]

64. No difference between The British co. and the UAE co.

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!
British aren't notorious for strapping bombs to themselves!!!!!!

I just want to reach through the tv and choke him!

[CottonBear]

156. The UAE company is gov't owned. The British company is not. n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

52. Anyone catch that? The pre-post 9/11 views are political (ala Rove)

Straight from the Voice of the President!

[Catchawave]

68. This is not political, it's a principle ?

[soothsayer]

53. Q. There's a bi-partisan consensus that port security sucks. So

how can you turn over ports to a bunch of arabs (paraphrasing wildly here).

A. The prez doesn't see this as a political issue. We have to take into account the broader foreign policy implications this can have. The UAE are our pals.

[Daphne08]

54. Scottie said country, then quickly corrected himself and said

company.

It's a country-owned company.

[CottonBear]

59. It is a UAE gov't owned co. not a Middle Eastern owned co. n/t

[Daphne08]

65. Right, and someone needs to call him on it! n/t

[w8liftinglady]

56. "this is about a principle"-doesn't mention it's a STATE-CONTROLLED co

[pdxmom]

60. This is about "principles"? He's saying Bush is principled?

So he's saying that all those against this are unprincipled.

[soothsayer]

61. A. Went thru throrough review before this was allowed to go

forward. Blah blah. Our container policy allows us to inspect 100% of containers from suspicious places (or something like that), and Dubai was the first customs to join in on this.

[Rose Siding]

62. Did the brits host OBL? How many UAE soldiers are iraq, scottie?

"partner" in WOT means business partner

[w8liftinglady]

63. will they ask about Snow's connection?

[soothsayer]

66. Q. So of the 65 things a year this committee reviews, how many

are denied?

A. (spinning) I dunno, but I'm sure there are some

[CottonBear]

67. Will someone please ask about the UAE hijackers and how the UAE

would not cooperate with the US on anti-terror/anti-money laundering investigations.

[Norquist Nemesis]

70. Probably not...He came out swinging about "coverage" leaving

"false impressions".

[w8liftinglady]

69. Lessons learned review...my ass

[Norquist Nemesis]

72. Lessons learned = How to keep this under the radar and control

those rubberstamp Republicans.

[CottonBear]

73. "Leeson learned: Coast Guard saved lives...in other areas gov't.fell short

Lessons learned, lessons learned, lessons learned BWACK!

[jumpoffdaplanet]

71. Did you hear Scotty sqeak just now

"... they are a very solid partner in that war on terrorism.

Yeah, but whose partner?

Gregory going for the throat.

[soothsayer]

74. Helen: when did the prez actually learn of this, and why don't we

control our own security of our ports?

A. That's a false impression, that's what I'm talking about. The prez learned of this recently,became aware of it, and there was no objection raised by any depts which is why it didn't rise to the prezidential level.

[CottonBear]

75. Helen: why don't we own and run our own ports? Scotty: "We do."

Scotty says that the UAE will not run or manage our ports. WTF?

Then what will they do?

[ChrisCat]

127. I think he said they would run the forklifts.

EOM

[soothsayer]

76. Q. Why is this stuff done in secret? A. well there's proprietary

stuff involved and we're trying to provide as much info as we can

[CottonBear]

78. "proprietary stuff involved" just like Diebold. n/t

[Junkdrawer]

88. I'm hearing lots of parallels with the voting machine scandal today..

...proprietary

...insiders know where the holes are

[w8liftinglady]

77. what do we leave up to the company to do..hiring and firing?

[w8liftinglady]

80. 100% of all cargo is screened

[Norquist Nemesis]

81. Yep! The key words "high-risk" will be dropped from that soundbyte

[CottonBear]

84. "100% of high risk cargo screened at FOREIGN ports..." By who? n/t

[soothsayer]

79. Q> We don't have the manpower to do this (search cargo)

A. oh, we search cargo BEFORE it gets to our shores, lots of steps and measures in place to inspect containers, including 100% of all high risk containers before they're loaded onto ships in foreign ports (shurrrrrrr we do)

[Rose Siding]

82. He isn't explaining why the mandated inspection wasn't done

The reporters don't seem to have read the Exec Order!

snip>
The administration's review of the deal was conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a body that was created in 1975 to review foreign investments in the country that could affect national security. Under that review, officials from the Defense, State, Commerce and Transportation Departments, along with the National Security Council and other agencies, were charged with raising questions and passing judgment. They found no problems to warrant the next stage of review, a 45-day investigation with results reported to the president for a final decision.

However, a 1993 amendment to the law stipulates that such an investigation is mandatory when the acquiring company is controlled by or acting on behalf of a foreign government. Administration officials said they conducted additional inquires because of the ties to the United Arab Emirates, but they could not say why a 45-day investigation did not occur.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/22/politics/22port.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

[soothsayer]

83. Customs uses large scale x-ray and gamma ray and raditation

detection machines. technology very important. blah

[rodeodance]

85. staying at the UAI embassy right now--the D. company--they are here

to talk with WH.

[rodeodance]

89. cnn rather ticked cause they will not give them an interview.

[w8liftinglady]

86. so scot didn't answer about the hiring and firing thing

[Twist_U_Up]

87. This FUCKIN STINKS ,Those bastards are up to something!!!

won't be long now folks.

[Norquist Nemesis]

137. Smelling something here, too!

FALSE IMPRESSION! FALSE IMPRESSION!

They came out swinging with the idea that the "Liberal Media" is giving a "False Impression" in the "coverage". Any Republican stating opposition would have to be asked "what their reasons are" (political, election?)

This is too much.

[soothsayer]

90. Impordant to keep in mind (gawd I hate the way he speaks)

[soothsayer]

91. Q. How did th prez find out? From news coverage?

A. Yeah, i think so.

[spanone]

White House response: nobody in review process objected.

Well, hey fuckers, they're objecting NOW!!!!.

[w8liftinglady]

92. so..the president found out about this through news coverage

[CottonBear]

97. The president is always the last to know if he ever knows at all. n/t

[bettyellen]

93. * heard about it in the last few days??

he read it in the paper maybe?

[xiamiam]

110. thats what he said...bushit

[w8liftinglady]

94. "you're looking at this in a political context"

[underpants]

100. He said *snicker* they *oh god* he said they don't look at the politics

:rofl:

Sorry I couldn't hold back any longer

[soothsayer]

95. Q. The pubs have turned on this faster than nancy pelosi. Why?

A. Well they'll have to say why they object.

Q. Well your own party is turning on him

A. Well you're loooking at it politically. The prez isn't. He's looking at it as an important principal and policy.

[CottonBear]

96. "No nat'l security threats raised..." by UAE owned co/ UAE hijackers. n/t

[rodeodance]

98. WH solution to his (press problem) is to education the press and us.

[soothsayer]

99. A. Our national security experts said they were comfortable with

this, blah blah. But could have a real negative impact on our relations with pals like the UAE, who have helped us prevent terra-ist attacks.

[Catchawave]

101. Scotty playing the Terra, Terra, Terra card ....oy

[Norquist Nemesis]

102. Prez got a standing ovation from the Puppydog Conference

Probably too scared to do otherwise.

[w8liftinglady]

103. did CFIUS brief members of congress?

maybe-last week?

[rodeodance]

104. Scott says some members were Congress were briefed last week or least

their staff was. Well, this broke a week ago last Monday--lou dobbs I believe

[xiamiam]

105. why doesnt someone bring up that this is not just a foreign company

but a state owned foreign com..no matter what ..scotty is lying

[soothsayer]

106. Q. So did you brief congress? A. yeah, last week or maybe that

was to staffers, and now some this week. McCain said don't rush to judgement, learn the facts. This prez is going to do everything he can to make sure american peeps are protected. Congress mandated this process for this very reason, counterterrorism experts involved and did an assessment, etc.

[soothsayer]

107. Q. SO Frist spoke out against it. is he just ill informed?

A. Well you'd have to ask him.

[Avalux]

108. Well there it is!! I was waiting for Scottie to say it -

If we don't support this deal, it will adversely affect our relationship with a country that has helped us in the war on terror (paraphrasing).

So if we don't agree - the UAE will turn against us and send terrorists? Is that the inference here?

[CottonBear]

111. But the UAE already sent us two 9-11 hijackers! n/t

[Avalux]

119. What??? You mean they're NOT our ally??

:sarcasm:

[Norquist Nemesis]

115. Makes you wonder who's really holding the cards on this one.

He keeps saying "false impression" and "Arab company". WH really is fighting back hard on this one.

I wonder if any Democrats are getting 'briefed'.

There it is again! False Impression!

[Catchawave]

that's how I understood it ...the terror card

[xiamiam]

123. everything is a FALSE IMPRESSION..like this president and scottie..nt

[xiamiam]

why not question why they havent looked at their hiring practices ?

[xiamiam]

139. WHY are they not asking obvious questions...thorough investigation ha!

[Avalux]

149. Who is this dumbass leading Scottie??

April Ryan from American Urban Radio. She brought up the race card for him and allowed him to run with it - she needs to pull her head out of her ass and realize what's going on here. NOT about race.

[CottonBear]

109. "If...going to try & block this...have to look at foreign policy concerns

"It wouldn't have gone forward if there were greater foreign policy concerns."

[rodeodance]

112. hey Scott--the company is UAI run -they are at the DC embassy right now.

[rodeodance]

117. scott just told somone they are leaving a 'false impression"

[rodeodance]

122. scott saying they (who is they?) does not have the facts but he will give

them.

[Rose Siding]

130. Helen

I think she's the one who used the tern "control our ports"

[MelissaB]

132. You're right. n/t

[soothsayer]

113. Q. Does the WH feel let down that no one spotted a political hot

potato here?

A. well we're looking back in hindsight, and we prolly should have briefed congress sooner

[CottonBear]

125. Qest. raised about info flow to presdent during Katrina and now this...

Is there a problem w/ info flow to presdient?

Scotty pissed off, defending Dimson and info flow provcess to president (or lack thereof.)
A. "There is a false impression...you're leaving a false impression..."

[CottonBear]

128. Scottie says there "is systematic over analysis in this room." n/t

[gkhouston]

131. perhaps because there's systematic undertruthfulness in the room. n/t

[underpants]

114. FOX NEWS-Does the rancor over this send a mixed message overseas?

THERE IT IS

[underpants]

124. Another reporter-W didn't know about Katrina, Fuddgate, UAE

is this systematic?

Scottie says it is systematic over analysis in this room.

[Daphne08]

116. There he goes again... "a company FROM the UAE" and

comparing to "a company from Britian..."

Someone needs to call him on this!

[xiamiam]

WHY wont they call him on it? it is not just a company..

[soothsayer]

118. Q. Is there a systematic issue with the prez not hearing of things?

UAE deal, cheney shooting man, katrina

A. there's overanalysis in this room, and you're mischaracterizing each of those

[ncrainbowgrrl]

136. Dayum!! Who asked that one?!

Excellent question!

[w8liftinglady]

120. you are overanalyzing,peter-drawing false conclusions

about bush being out of the loop

[rodeodance]

126. 'false impressions"

[Ilsa]

121. O Jeebus, Scottie, we wouldn't want to over-analyze anything

you pukes are doing to f#@k us over.

[soothsayer]

129. Q. Was it a mistake that you didn't brief congress?

A. the prez isn't looking at this politically, but yeah, we should have briefed congress sooner

[rodeodance]

138. geesh-everything the WH DOES IS political~ give us another one Scot.

[CottonBear]

133. "It has been mis-characterized...we stay in touch w/ govs, mayors..." n/t

[rodeodance]

147. but oops we forgot to tell the LA mayor!! (me)

[soothsayer]

135. Indian reporter asking something about India

A. our relationship with india has never been stronger

[rodeodance]

141. Has any reporter pointed out that this company is Run by UAI?

[CottonBear]

144. No goddammit! SOMEONE please ask that question. Arghhh! n/t

[xiamiam]

148. no...nor have they questioned the thorough investigation

which did not even look into current management or future hiring practices...

[Daphne08]

170. No, and I'm also waiting for them to ask that! n/t

[CottonBear]

140. R. Goyal (Indian) asking how Clinton-India & *-India relationship differ.

(I wonder how many protesters there will be in India and Pakistan? Clinton was greeted by people throwing flowers to him.)

[soothsayer]

142. Q. Is their racism in this UAE port opposition? Is that what the prez

is saying?

A. he's saying we shouldn't have a different standard for an arab country than we would for a british company.

Q. Is it an issue of discrimination? Is one country being discriminated against?

A. you'd have to ask the others why they are opposing it. the prez said they should have to say why they oppose it.

[norml]

143. By law Dubya had to know about the port deal, Exon-Florio statute says so

The Exon-Florio statute established a 30-day review following receipt of a notification. For those transactions for which an extended 45-day review (or "investigation") is completed, a report must be provided to the President, who must by law announce the final decision within 15 days. In total, the process can not exceed 90 days.

http://www.treasury.gov/offices/international-affairs/exon-florio/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=490909&mesg_id=490909

[Norquist Nemesis]

145. Scotty's got "Facts"; the press has got "False Impressions"

Bastards!

We're living a real-life Orwell here, folks.

[rodeodance]

153. You are right--that is his major message

[soothsayer]

146. Q. Do you agree that this is sending a bad sentiment when there

is already alot of anti-american sentiment.

A. the prez said it sends a bad signal to an ally on the war on terra

[soothsayer]

151. Q. Does the prezident's veto theat stand? Does it include only

those that blcok the deal, or those that delay it?

A. well you're talking broadly about legislation

[CottonBear]

152. (British) woman asked about missing WH Katrina e-mails & phone logs.

Scotty says they'll be a briefing tomorrow. Blew right past the question as usual.

[BR_Parkway]

160. Even Les "off on a tangent" Kinsolving is asking good questions! 9/11

report documented UAE ties to funding terrorists

[soothsayer]

154. Q. So karl rove doesn't see a political aspect to this?

A. no, his office is not involved

[carolinalady]

155. Is anyone asking about the 45 day vs. actual 25 day process?

Law says 45 days, it was reported earlier that this deal was done in 25 days.

[rodeodance]

157. Scott does NOT recall what is said in 9/11 report about UAI and alquida.

[soothsayer]

158. Les: for the first time in his 5 yr presidency he's trheatened to veto

a bill. Now republican governors are opposing him. Have you seen a big split like this before?

[Rose Siding]

164. hee hee, even les is piling on

'are you suggesting other repubs are just shooting their mouths off?'

[xiamiam]

159. only way to stop if false info provided but they didnt even ask

about hiring practices ...or current management

[rodeodance]

161. Scott is wearing the orange tie again.

[soothsayer]

177. And ugly brown suit. Ugh.

[CottonBear]

162. Scotty blew past UAE money laundering/ non-copperation w/ US war on terror

question. Les Kinsolving asking about Dimson's first veto EVER in 5 years. Scotty: "Careful review...no nat'l security threats."

[soothsayer]

163. Q. Was it wise to go forward with port deal when terraists are in

UAE?

A> yes it was wise. they're putting in place and will have to enforce all kinds of security measures, blah

[xiamiam]

166. that is a lie..why wont they call him on it...employee backgrounds

were not checked...

[CottonBear]

178. "Container security initiative..." Q: "Will UAE co. 'manage' ports?

A. "In terms of ports, this co. will not control ports."

Q: Are any American Cos mananging port operation at Mifddle Eastern ports?

A. I don't know of any...

A. You can't name ONE, can you? (press: collective gasp of breath)

A. UAE (Scotty didn't say 'UAE company', he just mentioned the country!) manages ports in other countires too..."

[soothsayer]

165. Q. so the prez said they manage the ports. is that the right phrase

that we should be using?

A. yes they manage the terminals at the ports. this company is not in charge of security at ports. if this deal were blocked, wouldn't change security at ports one bit.

[Avalux]

167. Repug Senators spoke before they had the facts -

Scottie has given them an out to change their minds.

Isn't if fascinating that this incredibly important deal was made exclusively by the department heads without giving Congress or the President the information? What kind of government is this anyway?? :eyes:

[soothsayer]

168. Q> why wasn't an american company chosen for this job?

A. this was a transaction where a UAE company wanted to purchase a british company. Doesn't change who controls the port or are in charge of them

[rodeodance]

175. that was that supid Fox reporter asking that question What an idiot.

[xiamiam]

171. he gave so many opportunities to question state owned co..they keep passin

[rodeodance]

172. but Scott, Rummy head of DOD did NOT know either.

[Rose Siding]

180. It doesn't sound like these reporters have even read the committee regs

[soothsayer]

173. Q. so shouldn't the prez have learned of it sooner?

A. we should have briefed congress sooner. we have a review process. but prez went back and checked to make sure all the secretaries were happy. 65 transactions took place last year. no one objected to this. if they had I'm sure it would have risen to his notice.

[BR_Parkway]

179. Asking about Hamas recognition - someone please ask him why we wont

recognize them over their failure to recognize Isreal, but UAE has the same view about Isreal and we're selling them the ports??!!??

[CottonBear]

183. Good question if anyone has the balls to ask/ n/t

[soothsayer]

174. Q. on katrina, is prez confident that they can put the recommendations

in place before hurricane season?

A. some of them can. some are long term. gotta fix those levees in N.O. Corps of engineers is moving ahead. need congress to send money. you'll hear tomorrow

[xiamiam]

176. in place by statute but they were ready to bypass this..wtf

why do they not ask the real questions...

[CottonBear]

181. "Hamas needs to renounce violence, recognize Israel right to exist and

to work toward a two-state solution."

[janx]

182. Any questions re what is going on in IRAQ today?

?

[soothsayer]

184. Q. you said this company would take additional measures for

security. you mean more than what the brits had to? so why are you holding them to a differnt standard than the brits?

A. humimah huminah. some of this is proprietary. this is the transaction. they won't thru a process. part of the process is that when you come to an agreement like this, you add additional standards.

Q. so you're holding them to a different standard? prez said you shouldn't

A. he's talking about the review process

[CottonBear]

185. "proprietary information..." which means we won't tell you anything

about the business practices of our pals, the UAE.,

[soothsayer]

186. Q. so prez asked all the secretaries are you sure you're comfortable

with this?

A. yeah cuz of all the media attention. you'll see it's a legit company.

Q. after 9/11 the prez says let me worry about your safety, but he only learns of this in the news. isn't that a problem?

A. well the admin is his people, and there were no objections raised or he would have heard of it

[CottonBear]

193. "Admin is his people" means * is not in charge of freaking anything. n/t

[w8liftinglady]

187. yes-gregory asked re csx

[soothsayer]

188. Q. so secretary snow has ties to this company

A. I don't think that's true. he left already

Q. so is that why this is on the fast track?

A. absolutely not

[CottonBear]

189. David : Shouldn't we be worried that * found out through the papers

when he's been insisting that he is responsible for protecting the American people?

Scotty's last comment: :we should continue to work with the people of Iraq and win the war in Iraq."

[xiamiam]

191. best question so far

[rodeodance]

199. whow whow whow whow

[xiamiam]

190. why dont they ask why rumsfeld didnt know? if it was a normal process

[rodeodance]

200. someone from HomeS. said the DOD was 1/14 who reviewed this

process (oops rummny we forgot you?)--was c-span yesterday

[soothsayer]

192. And he's gone!

[xiamiam]

194. FINAL COMMENT..BULLSHIT

[CottonBear]

195. "We'll continue to work w/ the people in Iraq and win the war in Iraq." nt