Politics, Worst President Ever
Heckuva job, Rummy!
In his news conference today, Pres. Bush inadvertently admitted that he lied to reporters last week when he said that he planned to retain Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney through the end of his term:
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Last week you told us that Secretary Rumsfeld will be staying on. Why is the timing right now for this, and how much does it have to do with the election results?
THE PRESIDENT: Right. No, you and [two other reporters] came in the Oval Office, and [one of you] asked me the question one week before the [election], and basically it was, are you going to do something about Rumsfeld and the Vice President? And my answer was, they’re going to stay on. And the reason why is I didn’t want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign. And so the only way to answer that question and to get you on to another question was to give you that answer.
In other words, yes, I lied to you and so what? So what if lying to reporters is the same as lying to the American people.
The president continued:
The truth of the matter is, as well — I mean, that’s one reason I gave the answer, but the other reason why is I hadn’t had a chance to visit with Bob Gates yet, and I hadn’t had my final conversation with Don Rumsfeld yet at that point.
Many of us remember a time when the idea of a president admitting during a news conference that he’d lied to the media would have produced excitement and anger among the gaggle on the scene.
Today, however the session continued as if nothing had happened. Three or four reporters lobbed unrelated softballs, apparently oblivous — or apathetic — to the fact that he had just admitted to lying to their colleagues. Finally, someone asked for clarification — and the president, a certified pathological liar who is accustomed to murdering the truth and getting away with it, simply lied about lying:
Q Mr. President, thank you. Can I just start by asking you to clarify, sir, if, in your meeting with Steve and Terry and Dick, did you know at that point –
THE PRESIDENT: I did not.
Q — you would be making a change on Secretary Rumsfeld?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I did not. And the reason I didn’t know is because I hadn’t visited with his replacement — potential replacement.
Q But you knew he would be leaving, just not who would replace him?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I didn’t know that at the time.
And that was it. No follow up. No outrage. Not only did Chris Matthews not spew spittle in outrage, he did not even mention it, probably didn’t even notice.
There are consequences much harsher than the expectoration of pundits. This time — unlike any of the dozens, maybe hundreds of times this president has lied to the American people since 1999 — there was an immediate and unexpected consequence. Bush’s unqualified endorsement of Rumsfeld became a big news story in the run-up to the election that was not received well by the country’s uniformed personnel. Their displeasure was expressed in editorials published in the military newspapers on Monday, the day before the election, that called for Rumsfeld’s ouster.
But just like all the other uncountable lies told by this man since he’s been president, he’s has gotten away with this one, too. The media has moved on. It’s like they simply expect him to lie.
And what about Cheney? The results of the elections yesterday make it even more likely that the lameduck V.P. will be replaced with a GOP heir apparent — the party elders would no doubt like it to be John McCain — sometime before the commencement of election season early next year.
It is notable that Bush included Cheney with Rumsfeld in his “heckuva job.” Perhaps we should expect to hear stories about Cheney’s failing health or his sudden ennui with government soon after the holidays.
Topics: Politics, Worst President Ever
THAT SOB LIES ABOUT EVERYTHING! YES HE PROBABLY LIED ABOUT CHENY TOO FOR THEY WILL RESIGN SO THAT HE CAN PARDON THEM FOR ALL THEY DONE AND THEIR LIES AGAINST HUMANITY!
I don’t think you can really say that Bush “simply admitted that he lied,” given that he never used the word “lie.” (Not that I’m doubting that he did lie, of course!)
Bush Lied to Reporters Last Week When He Said He Would Retain Rumsfeld
Last week, Pres. Bush told reporters that Rumsfeld and Cheney would keep their jobs through the end of his term. The news became a big story in the run-up to the elections and may have cost the GOP some military votes. But at his news conference today,…
Maybe he didn’t lie – I can smell impeachment in the air…
No. Come on, don’t tell me this highly moral, coke-sniffing, alcoholic pervert lied to the American people! It can’t be true…
I dont think he lied last week. He did not know that the replacement had been planned by daddy. The Carlyle Group has taken over this war. Baker/Hamilton commission is in charge now. The replacement even comes from that commission.
The Carlyle Group.
Yes absolutey one of his lie’s he lie’d to us. and yes he knew that he’ll have to go because of the election’s. but he probaly hoped that he won’t have too.
We’ere talking here about a conneticut drop-out that thinks his chicken farm in Texas ia a “ranch”.
The best, and certainly most reliable, way to determine that the Uneducated, Unimpeached and Unindicted Bush is lying is to see if his lips move.
If you hear anything distinguishable, beyond a belch or a fart, then you know you have been lied to again.
Why the helldoes everyone go ito such fits about the LIES of the Crawford TEXAS village idiot? THE WHOLE FILPPING WORLD KNOWS THAT THAT IS ALL HE ND KARL ROVE DO WELL!
I can’t believe how FAST the neighbors Republican campaign signs came down today !!!
Can’t some one slap a few of the reporters awake when they sit before their fallen idol. Maybe they have spouses that tell lies, and they become immune to the truth.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW THIS! WHEN HE HAS NOT LIED TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC! THAT ASS HOLE NEED TO BE IMPEACHED AND NEVER PUT ON RECORD AS BEING A PRES FOR HE REALLY WAS NOT FOR HE STOLE BOTH ELECTIONS AND FOR SHORE IS NOT A PRES!
THE REASON bush had to do this is that if he didn’t, then the dems would FORCE Rummy’s removal. The next incompetant fool Bush selects for this job will either get soft treatment of a GOP Senate Chaired committee for nomination approval.
Watch Bush try to push through every nomination he can with this lame duck lap-dog Senate of his while he still has a chance to.
GOD BLESS THE DEMS TAKEOVER !
Congratulations Democrats! But now, the main task, is the start PROCEDURES for the impeachment of Bush AND Cheney!
So, Bush was FOR keeping Rumsfeld before he was AGAINST keeping him.
Can I get a FLIP_FLOP!!
FLIP FLOP HELL! WHEN IS HE GOING TO GET IMPEACHED FOR ALL OF THE LIES THAT HE CONTINUESLY SPILLS!!!! CLINTON GOT IMPEACHED OVER ONE LIE HE TOLD!!!!!
Oh, horseshit. He decided to let rummy go after the elections. It was simply more expedient to falsely admit to a deception tha to admit to being cowed by the elections.
I think Rummy resigned because he did not want to be brought up on charges by the Democratic Congress with supoena power. I think it probably was a surprise to him and W that they lost at all. The Gates selection probably was done by Carlyle Group. Weren’t all major appointments picked by Daddy?
I love this story.
It shows the incredible pomposity of reporters who are outraged that the man they have villified for six years doesn’t want to give them a hint of something that hasn’t been finalized.
They are outraged and I am all the more ecstatic. If they cannot be trusted to report news without commentary, then the less news they report the more actual truth we hear.