A President on Defense
The press conference just ended, so here are a couple of informal notes.
1) "When the weapons weren't there, like many Americans, I was concerned." President Bush.
2) In regards to the " a democracy in Iraq will serve as a beacon for people of the region," isn't this just a warmed over version of the Domino Theory from Vietnam.
3) Regarding the NSA spying, what I heard is the regret of the bad husband "Everything I did, I did for you."
4) The hottest response was to a question about his claims of executive power, and that if the war on terror is to continue for generations, are we not looking at a "dictatorial president"(Bush's words) for decades to come? After responding hotly, he seemed to be belching with indigestion through the question following this one.
5) Bush kept stressing the absolute necessity of protecting sources and methods in his defense of the NSA program. The kicker unasked question would have been,
"If the protection of sources and methods is of such significant importance, why do you still employ Karl Rove at the Whitehouse with full security access and policy role? This is a man who has admitted his involvement in outing a CIA agent who was involved in gathering information regarding the black market transfer of nuclear plans, materials, and information. Why does Karl Rove, an admitted leaker who has damaged national security still have security access and a job in your administration?"
6) Also, did anybody else find it kind of creepy/desperate that Bush kept half raising his right hand when talking about his inaugural oath to uphold the laws and constitution of the country?
7) Did anyone else see irony when Bush was discussing secret prisons under Saddam? Not only in relation to the US gulags, but also to the secret torture prisons that have been discovered run by Iraqi police.
8) I also noticed a shift in language saying the Congressional leaders saw the same NIE that Bush did, not the same intel. First, that is more factually correct, but it leads me to wonder whether all the qualifiers on the intel were ever actually presented to him. In other words, did Cheney lie the president into war?
These are just quick first impressions, things that jumped out at me. I'll keep adding to this list as I think of stuff. If you've got anything else, or anything I forgot, throw it in the comments.
UPDATE: Leslie at In an Alternate Universe has a great excerpt from an Al Gonzales press conference held prior to the Bush conference. Short and worth a look. Crooks and Liars has the video.
1) "When the weapons weren't there, like many Americans, I was concerned." President Bush.
2) In regards to the " a democracy in Iraq will serve as a beacon for people of the region," isn't this just a warmed over version of the Domino Theory from Vietnam.
3) Regarding the NSA spying, what I heard is the regret of the bad husband "Everything I did, I did for you."
4) The hottest response was to a question about his claims of executive power, and that if the war on terror is to continue for generations, are we not looking at a "dictatorial president"(Bush's words) for decades to come? After responding hotly, he seemed to be belching with indigestion through the question following this one.
5) Bush kept stressing the absolute necessity of protecting sources and methods in his defense of the NSA program. The kicker unasked question would have been,
"If the protection of sources and methods is of such significant importance, why do you still employ Karl Rove at the Whitehouse with full security access and policy role? This is a man who has admitted his involvement in outing a CIA agent who was involved in gathering information regarding the black market transfer of nuclear plans, materials, and information. Why does Karl Rove, an admitted leaker who has damaged national security still have security access and a job in your administration?"
6) Also, did anybody else find it kind of creepy/desperate that Bush kept half raising his right hand when talking about his inaugural oath to uphold the laws and constitution of the country?
7) Did anyone else see irony when Bush was discussing secret prisons under Saddam? Not only in relation to the US gulags, but also to the secret torture prisons that have been discovered run by Iraqi police.
8) I also noticed a shift in language saying the Congressional leaders saw the same NIE that Bush did, not the same intel. First, that is more factually correct, but it leads me to wonder whether all the qualifiers on the intel were ever actually presented to him. In other words, did Cheney lie the president into war?
These are just quick first impressions, things that jumped out at me. I'll keep adding to this list as I think of stuff. If you've got anything else, or anything I forgot, throw it in the comments.
UPDATE: Leslie at In an Alternate Universe has a great excerpt from an Al Gonzales press conference held prior to the Bush conference. Short and worth a look. Crooks and Liars has the video.
posted by mikevotes at
10:28 AM
7 Comments:
I am sick of him calling his opponents "defeatists" because they want to end an occupation.
He always makes a point to say that legitimate criticism is ok, but defeatism is bad. What is legitimate criticism? Isn't wanting our troops home legitimate criticism?
By
Graeme, at 11:47 AM
Good question. He has never really described what is legitimate criticism except as to how much you love his plan.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 12:27 PM
I can't even blog about it and keep from gagging on his absolute contempt for the Constitution and the people of this country.
By
Anonymous, at 12:27 PM
Legimate Criticism (TM) is a Justice Dept. approved list of topics upon which you allowed to voice your dissent. It does not include, the Iraq war, NSA, Karl Rove, or a host of other topics.
Nuf said.
By
Anonymous, at 2:47 PM
I just listened on the radio, so I couldn't see his body language, but he sure sounded testy AND frustrated when asked if he'd cooperate with hearings on the NSA wiretap program. "I already done TOLE the Congress!"
And yes, his reference to "secret prisons" where "people were tortured" just leaped out at me with irony.
I'd sure like to hear about some of those attacks that have been "thwarted."
By
Motherlode, at 2:52 PM
Don't forget on the spying that the FISA warrant procedure is both secret and allowed to be retroactive. Read again: RETROACTIVE. That means the argument of necessity of speed is absolute crap. They can get the warrant after they've done the emergency tap. It it was legit and justified, no problem. But that's the problem, isn't it?
By
Anonymous, at 7:18 PM
I'm beginning to think that these taps were in place on people of whom the FISA court would not approve.
Reporters maybe. Or gov't officials?
I don't know, but the more we hear about this story the more bizarre this program seems.
Cause Bill is right, the fact that these warrants can be obtained retroactively within 72 hours undermines almost all of the Bush arguments leading me to believe this course was chosen because the FISA court wouldn't have approved.
The question is why.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 8:40 PM
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