Where is Scott McClellan?
I mentioned before that McClellan hasn't held a press briefing since Nov. 9(actually, I said Nov. 7, but Nov. 9 is correct,) so I went back to look at the last one. Initial question on each topic only, no followups, answers, or arguments just to get a sense of why McClellan may be quitting.
(emphasis in original White House transcript)
Q Scott, some people have noted that it's more than a little ironic that a year ago, the U.S. was kicking down Ahmed Chalabi's door, and now he's being welcomed at the highest levels here in Washington. It seems to be a startling rehabilitation.
Q .... the Democrats are looking at the results on Election Night yesterday and saying this is an indication that the President is really unpopular and is a drag on the Republican Party now, going into midterm elections.
Q .... Why doesn't the President share this concern about the profits of these oil companies?
Q .... Yesterday, when we were asking about the ethics briefings, you said that staff members who get security clearance do have to sign information when they go through their briefings. You also said that you'd be glad to provide us with information that's not classified regarding these briefings. Would you provide to the media copies of the documents that senior staff have to sign when they agree --
Q Scott, on the election, Corzine is casting his win as a victory over Bush-Rove. Are you concerned that the leak investigation is having a political fallout? Is that an indication that it is?
Q Scott, I have a couple questions related to the White House ethics guidelines. But, first of all, I have a follow-up with the windfall profits.
Q With respect to the ethics guidelines, I understand there's a document that was, I presume, being used, prepared by the Office of Government Ethics for the briefings. And I have just a few questions, if you could clarify this. Under 18 U.S. Code Section 2, would public disclosure of classified information constitute an offense against the United States government?
Q Last night's elections again. Does the White House really not see any cautionary lessons from last night? Or are you viewing this entirely as a situation normal, status quo, nothing to be learned?
Q ..... Yesterday also, on Capitol Hill, Senator Kyl and Senator Specter and Senator Leahy were having a briefing on the Saudi Arabia war on terrorism, and they are saying that Saudi Arabia still finances the terrorists around the globe, and also there is no religious freedom, and the persecutions in Saudi Arabia. So where do we stand now as far as --
Q Concerning China, today the Dalai Lama is meeting with President, and I'm sure he has concerns in his country that he want to see -- Tibet also to be respected, and religious freedom.
Q Scott, a new round of talks has begun to try and force North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Does the President have any reason to believe that this round will be more successful than previous ones?
(okay, this second question from Les was better) Q And then President Carter also said, quote, "I've never been convinced that Jesus Christ would approve abortion." And my question: Does the President believe that a 13-year-old victim of gang rape or incest by her father or mother should be denied the right to abortion because he believes Jesus opposes all abortion? (Dance, Scotty, Dance)
Enough. You get the idea. And this was all before Abramoff, white phosphorus, secret prisons, torture, Woodward, bombing Al Jazeera, Bush knowing no Iraq Al Queda connection, a majority thinking the president untrustworthy, collapsing war support, Murtha, Condi Rice and pentagon talking pullout, does Cheney still have support, and a lot more.
I wouldn't blame McClellan if he never got up there again.
(emphasis in original White House transcript)
Q Scott, some people have noted that it's more than a little ironic that a year ago, the U.S. was kicking down Ahmed Chalabi's door, and now he's being welcomed at the highest levels here in Washington. It seems to be a startling rehabilitation.
Q .... the Democrats are looking at the results on Election Night yesterday and saying this is an indication that the President is really unpopular and is a drag on the Republican Party now, going into midterm elections.
Q .... Why doesn't the President share this concern about the profits of these oil companies?
Q .... Yesterday, when we were asking about the ethics briefings, you said that staff members who get security clearance do have to sign information when they go through their briefings. You also said that you'd be glad to provide us with information that's not classified regarding these briefings. Would you provide to the media copies of the documents that senior staff have to sign when they agree --
Q Scott, on the election, Corzine is casting his win as a victory over Bush-Rove. Are you concerned that the leak investigation is having a political fallout? Is that an indication that it is?
Q Scott, I have a couple questions related to the White House ethics guidelines. But, first of all, I have a follow-up with the windfall profits.
Q With respect to the ethics guidelines, I understand there's a document that was, I presume, being used, prepared by the Office of Government Ethics for the briefings. And I have just a few questions, if you could clarify this. Under 18 U.S. Code Section 2, would public disclosure of classified information constitute an offense against the United States government?
Q Last night's elections again. Does the White House really not see any cautionary lessons from last night? Or are you viewing this entirely as a situation normal, status quo, nothing to be learned?
Q ..... Yesterday also, on Capitol Hill, Senator Kyl and Senator Specter and Senator Leahy were having a briefing on the Saudi Arabia war on terrorism, and they are saying that Saudi Arabia still finances the terrorists around the globe, and also there is no religious freedom, and the persecutions in Saudi Arabia. So where do we stand now as far as --
Q Concerning China, today the Dalai Lama is meeting with President, and I'm sure he has concerns in his country that he want to see -- Tibet also to be respected, and religious freedom.
Q Scott, a new round of talks has begun to try and force North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Does the President have any reason to believe that this round will be more successful than previous ones?
(okay, this second question from Les was better) Q And then President Carter also said, quote, "I've never been convinced that Jesus Christ would approve abortion." And my question: Does the President believe that a 13-year-old victim of gang rape or incest by her father or mother should be denied the right to abortion because he believes Jesus opposes all abortion? (Dance, Scotty, Dance)
Enough. You get the idea. And this was all before Abramoff, white phosphorus, secret prisons, torture, Woodward, bombing Al Jazeera, Bush knowing no Iraq Al Queda connection, a majority thinking the president untrustworthy, collapsing war support, Murtha, Condi Rice and pentagon talking pullout, does Cheney still have support, and a lot more.
I wouldn't blame McClellan if he never got up there again.
posted by mikevotes at
8:14 PM
1 Comments:
Great post. Where is Scott McClellan? Why haven't major media outlets asked this? Not only has the president thumbed his nose at us when we ask hard questions about the war, but now he appears to have no consistent link to the outside world to hold him accountable. We are used to W going months without a press conference, but not his press sec.!!! Is this republic democratic or not?
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Anonymous, at 2:21 PM
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