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Snow: "Let's See Where It Goes"
President Bush called Alberto Gonzales this morning to "reaffirm his support." But listen to Tony Snow in this morning's press gaggle:
Q Is the President determined to insist that Gonzales stay on, even as his support on Capitol Hill erodes even among Republicans?MR. SNOW: Well, I think you need to take a look at what happens over the rest of the day. You're asking yesterday's question, not tomorrow's question. And the point is, you've had two Republicans who have spoken publicly, but now you also have data available. You have evidence available. You have people who have an opportunity to take a good, hard look at the documentary record. Let's see where it goes from there....
Q All the documents that have been released suggest that whatever mistakes the President has admitted were made were confined to subordinates to Gonzales -- or does the President hold the Attorney General responsible for those mistakes?
MR. SNOW: I think I'm going to let you read the documents rather than having me characterize 3,000 pages. I've not had an opportunity to read them all.
Comments (4)
Robin Boerner wrote on March 20, 2007 3:30 PM:I'd like to see one of those reporters ask Tony Snow (and other Bush talking heads)about this Patriot Act US Attorney. Tpm even covered this in September. Lot's of interesting questions about this US Senator, his son, and a Bush USA appointee. And...who exactly IS running the investigation of Ted's son and Veco (the oil company)? Gonzales finally appointed two to the Public Integrity Section that is quoted in the story. Let's query them as well. ALL UNDER OATH.
From TPM in SEPTEMBER:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?search=nelson+cohen&SearchCutoff=365
Alaska Corruption Case Run from Washington
"The federal investigation that erupted with fury 10 days ago with searches of a half-dozen Alaska legislative offices is being managed independent of the Alaska U.S. Attorney's office, a U.S. Justice Department official said Monday.
"[Justice spokesman Bryan Sierra] wouldn’t say why the Alaska office wasn’t allowed to participate in the case or how many lawyers from Washington were assigned to it. But the case is even off-limits to Nelson Cohen, the new U.S. Attorney for Alaska who just arrived last month from Pittsburgh, he said.
"Sierra said it’s not unusual that the local U.S. Attorney’s office will recuse itself from a sensitive corruption case and wall off its legal, public relations and even clerical staffs from the investigation and prosecutions. Sometimes one or two assistant U.S. attorneys might still be assigned to work with the Public Integrity attorneys, but Sierra said he didn’t know if that was the case in Alaska." (Anchorage Daily News)
Occulus wrote on March 20, 2007 3:45 PM:Meanwhile, Conyers has stated per a diary at Kos (found at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/20/121453/262#c166 ) that Rove and Miers will testify under oath- in contradiction to statements made by the WH that they will be allowed to testify only behind closed doors and NOT under oath.
Telling, in light of the Snowjob above. Expect further nonresponses to such questions throughout the coming week.
mbbsdphil wrote on March 20, 2007 6:03 PM:Mr. Snow, all kidding aside, these reporters were asking Today's questions. Not yesterday's. As for tomorrow's questions, even you don't know what they are.
Harvey wrote on March 21, 2007 9:16 AM:This is what Tony Snow felt about Administration officials testifying when Clinton was in office.
Someone should ask him about this during the White House Briefings
************
HEADLINE: "Executive Privilege is a Dodge")
Evidently, Mr. Clinton wants to shield virtually any communications that take place within the White House compound on the theory that all such talk contributes in some way, shape or form to the continuing success and harmony of an administration. Taken to its logical extreme, that position would make it impossible for citizens to hold a chief executive accountable for anything. He would have a constitutional right to cover up.
Chances are that the courts will hurl such a claim out, but it will take time.
One gets the impression that Team Clinton values its survival more than most people want justice and thus will delay without qualm. But as the clock ticks, the public's faith in Mr. Clinton will ebb away for a simple reason: Most of us want no part of a president who is cynical enough to use the majesty of his office to evade the one thing he is sworn to uphold -- the rule of law.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/03/20/executive_privilege/index.html