Think Progress

Bush Falsely Claims Consistency on Leak Investigation

President Bush was asked on NBC’s Today Show about the leak scandal surrounding Karl Rove and other administration officials:

Matt Lauer: But does it worry you that [the prosecutors] seem to have such an interest in Mr. Rove?

Bush: I’m not going to talk about the case. I’ve been asked this a lot, my answer is consistent. The special prosecutor is conducting a very serious investigation – he’s doing it in a very dignified way, by the way – and we’ll see what he says.

In fact, Bush’s answers on the leak investigation have been inconsistent on at least two counts.

First, when asked previously to comment on the leak investigation, Bush indicated he wanted to know the details about whether anyone leaked the identity of Valerie Plame. Now, he’s completely silent.

Listen, I know of nobody — I don’t know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I’d like to know it, and we’ll take the appropriate action. [9/30/03]

Second, Bush has been inconsistent in his standards for holding leakers accountable.

Q: Do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to have done so [leak the name of CIA agent]?
Bush: Yes. [6/10/04]

Bush: I would like this [leak investigation to] end as quickly as possible so we know the facts, and if someone committed a crime, they will no longer work in my administration. [7/18/05]

(UPDATE: Crooks and Liars has the video.)

Also, it’s important to note that Bush said Fitzgerald was conducting his investigation in a “dignified way.” That rhetoric contrasts with Rove allies who have said of Fitzgerald’s office: “These guys are bullies, and they threaten you.” President Bush should ensure that his administration treats Fitzgerald in the same dignified way that his investigation has been conducted.



33 Responses to “Bush Falsely Claims Consistency on Leak Investigation”

  1. wishbone says:

    Bush has been a lot of things, but consistent isn’t one of them.


  2. Mary says:

    When the facts work against you, change the facts. They’re now redefining “consistent.” Karl Rove has been consistent. Scooter has been consistent. I guess it’s inside-out day.


  3. Terre says:

    Regarding the excellent Patrick Fitzgerald, if you haven’t read yesterday’s article about him in USA Today, I encourage reader’s to check it out. It will make your heart sing. :o)

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-10-10-fitzgerald_x.htm


  4. Zookeeper says:

    “President Bush should ensure that his administration treats Fitzgerald in the same dignified way that his investigation has been conducted.”

    Yah, like that’s going to happen. The smear has already begun.


  5. kindness says:

    Dumbya isn’t the brightest bulb in the string (no matter what Mier’s says). I’ve come to think that he really doesn’t get any info outside his closed little chamber, so he may not know what is happening if no one tells him.

    Bush43 is just a figurehead president a la Ronnie Raygun. I hate to say it, cause I never, ever thought it’d be true, but RR is no longer the WORST PRESIDENT that I’ve ever lived through. Damn, that hurts even typing it. I feel so unclean. I’m gonna go wash my hands.


  6. mark boswell says:

    Bush Quits Oval Office!
    Cites Job Burn-Out and Lack of Jogging Time

    By Rex Applegate
    October 8, 2005

    Washington(AP) — In a hastily arranged press conference at 8:00 a.m. in the Rose Garden of the White House, George Walker Bush Jr., 43rd President of the United States, resigned. Bush, who prided himself on being the “most physically fit president” in the history of the United States, said he was completely out of shape “and on the verge of jumpin’ off the wagon.” He said that “govmerment has become inept and totally corrupted by outsiders…it’s gotten so bad that my 5k time has become an national embarrassament.”

    He stated a “strong desire to spend more time on the ranch riding his bicycle, fishing and clearing brush…you know… ranchin’.” Bush, who in all likelihood will go down as the worst president in U.S. history, said: ” the job just ain’t what it used to be, 9/11 changed everything” a reference to the first year of his presidency where he was allowed at least 3- 4 hours a day for a rigorous fitness program. Bush, who holds presidential records in most vacation days used and least newspapers read while in office said: “I just got sick and tired of being on the job all the time, it got to the point where I where I had to watch Sports Center (ESPN) at night just to stay in tune.” With the World Series just around the corner and Bush’s former team (Houston Astros) still in the hunt, it was the perfect time to “start living my own life and stop wreckin’ others.”

    Memories of Under-Development

    He said getting back to the ranch would allow him to focus more on his inner faith and catch up on sports. “Do some mano mano with the big guy”(see God told me to invade Iraq.) After slightly freezing up for a brief moment he continued “…with Scooter and Turd Blossom doing time for Plame, I felt it was the right time to get out and let Dick do what he does best… fightin evildoers and leadin’ is hard work. I’m optimistic about his chances.” Bush, whose presidency was pockmarked with one failure after another said he was tired “of disasters happening all the time” and being blamed for it. “Blacks gotta realize I had no control over Katrina hitting that great American city. Besides, there’s plenty a’ blacks in my cabinet and sub-cabinets. I don’t think any of this mess woulda happened had we voted for Strom Thurmond. I’ve had more black than Clinton.”

    With Iraq cascading into one of the worst military blunders in modern history, he said it would probably have been a better idea to have “gone nucular on Iraq in the beginnin’…as bad as that sounds, it woulda probably been better stradegy, shock and awe was girl scout cookies to what I really wanted, but I was handcuffed to the U.N.” Still fretting, he continued, “that was only mistake I made and I take full responsibility for the federal governorment.” When reminded that he would probably go down as the worst President ever he angrily quipped “you think ‘ol George Dubya gonna sit around and worry about what some historian is gonna write in fifty years, you’re wrong” tears streaming down the side of his face. He said his mission was accomplished and that he brought “dignity back to the White House, I’m a war leader and I’m tired of all this fightin’.” He abruptly left the podium and put some air back in his mountain bike. His spokesman, Scott McClellan said that: “he might have quit his job, but he will still remain the President for the sake of continuity.”

    In a power sharing deal with Vice-President Dick Cheney, Bush will keep Air Force One down in Texas, while handing the coveted 600 Pennsylvania Avenue Estate keys over to the VEEP. “If Big Time needs any consultations, I’ll keep myself availbible on video –conference and I’ll becoming back to Washington for meetins’.” Cheney said it was admirable of the President to offer him the White House, but he would remain in his
    bunker .” “I’ve come to like it, if you will, the climate control !” Cheney added.

    Double Trouble on Mothballs

    George Bush Sr. on hearing that his son would be stepping down as leader of the free world said:”43 did the best he could, especially after Clinton left the country in shambles, I think he steered us back in the right direction, reformed us a lot.” With yet another Bush presidential record seemingly locked up, this time as the worst father and son combination to ever occupy the White House, Bush Senior added: “Just so the American people don’t have any hard feelings over what’s happened, The Carlyle Group will pay-off the 3 trillion dollar debt incurred by congress. We got him out of Harkin and we’ll get ‘him outta this one.” George Walker Bush Junior came into office on January 20, 2001 at 6 feet tall, weighing 187 pounds with 12% total body fat. He departs at 192 pounds and 19 % total body fat. His golf handicap remains the same at 12 (while his mental one has slightly increased!)


  7. Citizens Against Drunk Presidents says:

    He’s consistently inconsistent! And Drunk!


  8. Jesus Christ God of WAR says:

    Bush’s year 2000 “promise” to restore dignity to the WhiteHouse is laughable.

    Before this is all done, Bush may have to pardon even himself.

    #43 is absolutely the worst President in my lifetime. Worse the Raygun. Worse then even Nixon himself. Aren’t the Repugs ever so proud of themselves? Fools. All of them.


  9. Brian says:

    Let’s not forget (paraphrase) “I don’t think we can win” (the war on terror).

    Is it me? or is this a slow day for blogs. I think everyone is posturing for the impending Rove testimony…


  10. Robert says:

    The only thing he is consistent at is being the Worst President Ever.


  11. Pete Bogs says:

    Bush is slicker than any “Willie” and flip-flops more than any windsurfing giant… what a hypocrite… he can talk about the case when he thinks it will benefit him… he may well force criminals out of his administration, but he may follow up with a presidential pardon… asshole…

    more on the Prez’s stalling tactics here:

    http://blogdebogs.blogspot.com/2005/09/ongoing-problems.html


  12. Keith H. says:

    He’s consistent at bein’ a fvckin’ idiot.
    junior: ‘duhh, what was the question again? Ohh, forget it, I’ve got to ‘get on with my life’…now watch this drive.’


  13. Magnum DB says:

    I kind of understand this answer from Bush. He was talking at a time when he didn’t know anyone in his administration was involved – but when it got specific, and he learned Karl Rove was being questioned, Bush stopped talking because now the case is talking about specific people.

    I don’t know if he’s coverng his behind now, or just doing what he’s supposed to be doing.

    Either way, I hope the entire administration goes down, including Bush.


  14. kjlovell says:

    The only and I do mean only thing dumbya has been consistent with is lying!

    This idiot lies so much someone else has to call his dog.

    Fitzgerald is a professional, courteous, dignified and educated man. Dumbya is a spoiled little addict with a bad temper and contempt for everyone on the planet. Good does win in the end.

    With Rover playing CYA and Crash Cart Cheeney taking two steps back into the shadows (is this to see dumbya fry & seek a shot at the ‘08 election or is he scared sh***tless?) Dumbya is forced to try to think for himself and it is truly funny and pitiful at the same time.

    Der Leader is on the ropes and none of their dirty tricks can help them now.

    It is a wonderful day.


  15. kjlovell says:

    #5, my thoughts exactly!


  16. Sharon Cox says:

    Bush is getting so bad .with the blue shirt’s again in latest photo opp, they can’t even get the tool belt right for a worker. Never have seen a builder, carpenter wear one back word’s till now. That’s him a** backwards…..Gees!…Blessings


  17. AvengingAngel says:

    President Bush on PlameGate on October 7, 2003:

    “I don’t know if we’re going to find out the senior administration official. Now, this is a large administration, and there’s a lot of senior officials. I don’t have any idea. I’d like to. I want to know the truth. That’s why I’ve instructed this staff of mine to cooperate fully with the investigators — full disclosure, everything we know the investigators will find out. “


  18. technopuritanism.net says:

    Judy Miller doesn’t want to hear bad news

    Terrorism-funding expert journalistJoe Trento just wrote on his blog that he’s tried to pass on a warning to Judy Miller that her life would be in danger if she traveled to the Middle East, but she hung up on him:…


  19. Citizen80203 says:

    What I do not understand is the silence of the Democratic Leadership on this scandal. I can only surmise that it is a wait and see them bleed by themselves approach. They seem to not want to get involved for fear of “it really is a partisan attack on the administration” charge.

    Well, all I can say is it looks like another lost opportunity for the Dems, just like Katrina. Had the leadership attacked after Katrina, the incompetence charge would have become a larger brain nugget (even larger than it is now) lodged within the American memory. It would have also kept the GOP on the defensive, not allowing them to use Katrina to advance Katrina tax cuts, free enterprise zones, suspension of minimum wage, and further cuts to progressive programs.

    Now we have the same dilemma, indictments are looming and the only ones talking are the conservatives. We are seeing their new talking points of “bullies” & “out of control investigations” that is redefining this into something less than treason.

    This is also happening with Delay/Abrahmoff, Coingate, Iraqi double-dealing, nonexistent Homeland Security, Tax cut larceny, corporate/congressional corruption, gas gouging, Frist profiteering, cronyism, Corporate Supreme Court, and many more than I care to list. Where is the Democratic Leadership’s unified outrage? What are the Democratic Leadership’s codified platforms for fixing the above problems? All we hear is the rightwing redefining everything as “it’s the liberals/Dems fault”, “soft”, “not really a big deal”, “we are mainstream”, “raising taxes”, “helps the economy”, “safer here” and all the other f**king lies they spew. NOTHING FROM OUR SO CALLED LEADERSHIP WARRIORS BUT SILENCE!


  20. Marie says:

    The Repugs would not miss an opportunity to slam Clinton or any Democrat who occupied the WH and said the stupid, inconsistent, and false statements as Dubya. The Dems are missing a golden opportunity here to challenge the accidental president on his flip-flops, not to mention his lies, his mischaracterizations, and the scandals affecting his administration.


  21. TAC says:

    “If somebody did leak classified information, I’d like to know it, and we’ll take the appropriate action.” 9/30/03

    “…if someone committed a crime, they will no longer work in my administration.” 7/18/05

    “If someone is convicted of a crime, loses all appeals including the Supreme Court, then kills baby Jesus and urinates on his grave, I may consider removing them from my administration.” 11/18/05


  22. mysticagent says:

    #22
    “Only if you have concrete evidence, including legaly admissable photos and tapes, AND as long as the prosecution was not ‘partisan’ (by our definition, if you go after or question any GOP member you are being partisan). Oh, and all current administration members are essential and trustworthy to our team, so they are all pardoned. Look, we’re accomplishing The Agenga (see DeLay or PNAC), so what’s the big deal? The ends justify the means. Right?”


  23. The WB42 5:30 Report With Doug Krile says:

    Tuesday Trivia

    We’re back on track, featuring a couple of blog posts in our daily info update – The WB42 5:30 Report with Doug Krile. From Katrina rip-offs the Harriet Miers, we have something today for everyone, from the left or right.


  24. Bill says:

    The reason Bush continues to say contradictory and inconsistent things is that the media continues to let him get away with it. Just last week he told the nation that his Generals informed him that there was good progress in Iraq. But, during the same week the same Generals told a Senate committee that the number of Iraqi regiments ready for combat had gone down from 3 to 1. Assuming the Generals were not committing perjury, either they lied to Bush or Bush lied about what they told him. Has anyone in the media taken Bush to task for this? Of course not.


  25. Bill says:

    Remember that Bush the first pardon four indicted co-conspirators in the Iran-Contra scandal who were scheduled to testify under oath regarding Bush’s part in the scandal. He also pardoned the head of Occidental Petroleum after that man made large contributions to the RNC and sent a convicted heroin smuggler back to Afganistan in the middle of the night before he left the Whitehouse. Total number of NYT articles on Bush I’s pardons: one. Clinton pardoned a fugitive financier at the personal request of the Prime Minister of Israel. Total number of NYT articles on Clinton’s pardon’s: seventeen. It’s the media, people. Until we fix the media, we’re not on a level playing field.


  26. mjvpi says:

    Jeff Gannon didn’t wash his blue dress. We’ll get to the bottom of this!


  27. A. Roy says:

    Is consistantly inconsistant redundant. That’s the legacy of Mr. Bush’s administration.

    Tom De Lay is crude and defiant
    Roaring loud like a threatening giant
    All blaspheme and blubber
    When he bunks with Bubba
    How quickly will Tom be compliant


  28. Barbara says:

    Look into the Bush family records and you will see deception back to Grandfather Prescott Bush who still was trading with the Nazis after Pearl Harbor. (money hungry)
    Then he became a senator. Son and Grandson were already being prept for the White House. George W. thinks of of himself as an elitist. We are just pawns for a very corrupt family. Who profits from war? Bush and Company!


  29. Roger Drowne EC says:

    BU$H = TREASON … Continued at…

    http://www.RogerART.com

    SEE on left… LINK ( 2 ) to ( Re-Written ) Declaration of Independence,
    Thank U, Roger

    ___________

    Read the… ( Re-Written )

    DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE

    by, Roger Drowne EC

    http://www.RogerART.com

    ________

    Elaine Cassel @ Civil Liberties Watch July 4 th 2003 http://blogs.citypages.com/ecassel/

    ” A Daring Declaration of Independence
    No surprise that I have intelligent readers. But the creativity and ambition of some is a delightful discovery. Read this 21st century – ( Re-Written ) Declaration of Independence. Author Roger Drowne EC ( From USA, Earth ) Dares you to “sign” it. ”
    _____________

    START…

    WHEN IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS IT BECOMES NECESSARY for the PEOPLE of the United States TO ALTER or ABOLISH the United States Government as it exists in the year 2001 / 02 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 06

    Using the Authority, Law, and Intentions of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

    And Now the People Step Forward and Charge High Treason, and Show that Democracy in its roots today, is Corrupt.

    And that the Constitution has been Altered and Betrayed in Favor of A Small Group of Millionaires, Over Another… the Governed, the People of the United States.

    And that the Election Process is UN-fair and has been Overwhelmed and Monopolized by Millionaires and their millions of dollars, in a large part acquired while in office or with insider information after being in office. And the United States Government is Manipulated by Corporations and their CEOs, all led by the Bush Family, Millionaire Class, Conspiracy.

    A CONSPIRACY, CONNECTING THE MULTIMILLIONAIRES, ONE WITH ANOTHER.

    ____________ continued…

    MULTI-MILLIONAIRES in Government ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH the LIVES OF the AMERICAN PEOPLE. And the people watch Democracy in Decline.

    He has made the judgments of Millionaires Class without taking the environment into the equation. Millionaires with a million dollars in their pockets can not understanding the plight of the heroic common man who has not the necessities of life. Thus he can not help the poor or set a moral tone.

    · He has NOT made HEALTH CARE available to all the people of the United States. He, the Millionaires in government, can afford health care while the middle class and the working class poor do not have basic health care and the People Die from his Abominable neglect.

    · He, the millionaires, have no idea what it is like to, Not Have Health Care, and even more important, yearly Preventive Health Care Check Ups. It is the difference between having your teeth pulled with or without Novocain.

    · He has Cronies that sell PRESCRIPTION DRUGS at a HIGH Price and contribute to his campaign. And the people choose between drugs, energy, food and death and is a crime against Humanity.

    · He allows the multi-millionaires to get rich FAST, And the poor get poorer even FASTER.

    · He allows People with mental problems live on the street or in Jail and this is a Health Care Crime.

    · He allows the prison system become a growth industry instead of a National Health Problem.

    · He allows the People to rot in jail for non-violent drug charges, While he himself has used the same DRUGS including the national epidemic use of alcohol, confirmed by the Bush, Cheney, lifestyle that includes four Driving Under the Influence Criminal Offenses. And all drugs, in its root, are a Addiction Health Situation.

    · He, the Millionaires in government today let Military Veterans live in cardboard boxes on the street, with minimal health care and this is EVIL. This and his corruption of the election process is a great injustice against those Men and Woman whom have lived and died for democracy from the first Revolutionary War Patriots, through WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam and the Oil Gulf War. And… And…

    continued…

    WE the PEOPLE of the United States of America mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

    And Now…

    WE the PEOPLE – Step Forward and Sign

    Sign Your Name Here ________________

    _________

    BU$H = TREASON … Continued at…

    http://www.RogerART.com


  30. michael flinn says:

    Not that it matters much but did anybody else notice the way Bush was gripping the hammer while he tried to drive a nail? It is obvious he’s never done it before, after all, they put a “handle” on hammers for a reason…


  31. Terry C. Potter says:

    You’re correct michael flinn, it doesn’t matter much, just like most things you liberals find so newsworthy.


  32. Ryan Neat says:

    “You’re correct michael flinn, it doesn’t matter much, just like most things you liberals find so newsworthy.”

    That’s true. Corruption, crime, treason, torture, illegal invasions based on fabricated evidence, ineptitude federal agencies that kill civilians through incompetence, cronyism and ineptitude in qualifications, religious zealots, and any number of other issues like this are ‘trivial’. Well they are if you’re obsessed rightwinger who’s more worried about the open fly of a democratic president…

    You guys are all such clueless nitwits – it must be genetic!


  33. Karl Rove's Underpants says:

    George knows how to grip Karl’s hammer.



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