So Scottie sez that Supreme Court nominee John Roberts “doesn’t recall ever paying dues or being a member” of the conservative Federalist Society. But John Roberts himself said that participatws in Federalist Society events and gave speeches for the organization. And the Washington Post reported Monday that it had obtained from a liberal group a 1997-98 Federalist Society leadership directory … Read More
White House Purges?
It seems that some of the press gaggles archived on the White House website have, um, gone missing. For example, you can no longer access the press gaggle where Ari Fleischer says: But there’s a bigger picture here, and this is what’s fundamental—the case for war against Iraq was based on the threat that Saddam Hussein posed because of his … Read More
Flip-Flop
President Bush was against leaks of classified information before he was for tolerated them: Bush, appearing in the Rose Garden with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, gave Congress a stern lecture. “I understand there may be some heartburn on Capitol Hill,” he said. “But I suggest if they want to relieve that heartburn, that they take their positions very seriously and … Read More
“Highest Standards of Conduct” Defined
"The president has set high standards, the highest of standards, for people in his administration. He’s made it very clear to people in his administration that he expects them to adhere to the highest standards of conduct." – Scott McClellan, Press Briefing, September 29, 2003 "If someone committed a crime, they will no longer work in my administration." – George … Read More
Bush Raises The Bar, Moves The Goalposts, Waffles, etc.
. . . and for a refreshing change, the media isn’t fooled: WASHINGTON – President Bush said Monday that if anyone on his staff committed a crime in the CIA-leak case, that person will “no longer work in my administration.” His statement represented a shift from a previous comment, when he said that he would fire anyone shown to have … Read More
Moral Clarity vs Factual Clarity
Matt Yglesius says what I have been thinking for a long time. The reason why the right is inept at fighting the war on terror is because they simply have no interest in accurately surmising the driving force behind our enemies. Instead, the right just wants to paint the bad guys with broad brushes, and ignore the nuances of their … Read More
Quo Vadis?
Note to White House: If you want sell your message to the American people about how great things are in Iraq, don’t use Latin.
Terrorists Heart Bush
Remember that ridiculous meme during the past election that the terrorists were rooting for John Kerry to win? Apparently, just the opposite: Two French journalists who were held hostage in Iraq told a British documentary program that their captors believed George W. Bush’s re-election as US president would help radicalize Iraqis. Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, who were seized in … Read More
Bush’s Speech
From the speech: And the larger purpose of our involvement has always been to help the nations of The Middle East become independent and stand alone, self-sustaining, as members of a great world community – at peace with themselves, and at peace with all others. With such an Iraq, our country-and the world will be far more secure than it … Read More
Better There Than Here?
One of the most annoying and disingenuous memes coming from the White House these days—and Bush repeated it in his speech last night—is the idea that it is better to fight the terrorists in Iraq than it is to fight them here. When I first heard that message, I dismissed it as silly rhetoric . . . but then, I … Read More
Bush Then And Now
THEN: "Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is . . . I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn." — Bush criticizing President Clinton on not setting a timetable … Read More
Congressman Questions War And White House Secrecy
"The administration should clarify its intent in [this war]… People lack confidence in the credibility of our government… It’s a difficult thing today to be informed about our government even without all the secrecy. With the secrecy, it’s impossible. The American people will do what’s right when they have the information they need… Who said it? Representative Donald Rumsfeld (R-IL), … Read More
Vets Respond To Rove
From Takeittokarl.com: Throughout my adult life I’ve been a registered Democrat and yes, a liberal. As a peacetime veteran and as a wartime civilian who served her country willingly and with heartfelt patriotism, I am deeply insulted by Karl Rove’s outrageous condemnation of those who don’t march in lockstep with the religious right, conservative GOP. How dare this man, who … Read More
Cheney Does Clinton
When CNN’s Wolf Blitzer pointed out to Dick Cheney that military commanders in Iraq do not characterize the insurgency as being in its “last throes” (see my post here), Cheney backpeddled and pulled out his Webster’s: No, I would disagree. If you look at what the dictionary says about throes, it can still be a, you know, a violent period, … Read More
More Responses To Rove
Along with my earlier post from 9/11 families, here are some more of my faves: "Well, I think a lot more needs to be said about Karl Rove’s motives, because they’re not the people’s motives, and if the President really believed his own words of unity, then he should fire Karl Rove. If the President of the United States knows … Read More