Just a little late.
By on Nov 5th, 2005 at 10:57 am
Just a little late.
“President Bush has ordered White House staff to attend mandatory briefings beginning next week on ethical behavior and the handling of classified material after the indictment last week of a senior administration official in the CIA leak probe,†the Washington Post reports.
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Sounds like a guilty plea to me.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:02 amthey’re also going to attend a seminar on race relations, called the Katrina Commission on Incompetence, Indifference and Fashion Sense…
does it really take briefings for anyone to realize they’re not supposed to out covert CIA operatives or release classified materials? note the use of the words “covert” and “classified” in the previous sentence… maybe the WH staff just needs a frickin’ dictionary!?
November 5th, 2005 at 11:10 amI think it was a huge error. I hope the press inquires as to how well the classes are going. Everyday. I would also like to know who is teaching the class.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:13 amIt’s Harriet Miers. Classes are being run by the WH Counsel.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:29 amThe class is probably being taught by a contractor from Halliburton.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:30 amIt is just another empty gesture on the part of a pathetic president. He apparently believes that the American people are as ignorant as he is.
Ummmm, is this a historical first? Has any other president had to order his staff to take “Don’t be an a$$hole” classes?
November 5th, 2005 at 11:32 amYou’ve got to be kiddding! Rove and Libby and Cheney and Condi, and………need to go to a class to learn it’s not good to engage in treason, lying, character assasination, money laundering, cronyism? Excuse me while I wet burp!
November 5th, 2005 at 11:38 amThe ignoramus ! What is needed to save his job is a complete purge : fire cheney and his staff , carl rove , rummy , oh yes let’s not forget condi. The whole incompetent bunch !
November 5th, 2005 at 11:39 amSpudge! LOL!!!
November 5th, 2005 at 11:39 amWell, that’s fine. But who is going to be conducting the briefings, Karl Rove!? Which Bush crony is going to be giving this sage advice?
As we know from teh past, this administration likes to massage the facts. Why should I believe they’re suddenly going to change course and actually address their corrupt behavior and not just focus on how to avoid getting caught?
November 5th, 2005 at 11:41 amThis is ridiculous! What would be the message the Schrub Admin is trying to send? We’re correcting our tendancy for corruption? Or is it more benign, like all of our problems are small ethical issues, correctable with a few night classes? Or, will Americans simply see it as an admission that Shrub is ethically challenged? Shrub can’t fire anyone! They know too much. As if Shrub isn’t involved in Plamegate. It’s just a matter of time with Fitz and the Abramoff scandal heating up. At least I hope!
November 5th, 2005 at 11:47 amPure politics. There isn’t a chance in hell that Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Condi Rice, Rumsfeld, Matalin, Hughes or any of the other figures that have spun all these blatant lies attends an ethics class, ever. Laughable. These people fancy themselves the imperial sculptors of the global future and they believe that they know best and their ends always justify their means. They are dictators, and dictators don’t apologoze or capitulate nor do they believe that they have made mistakes. To the Bush administration all of this truly is background noise and it needs to be handled with another phony PR effort.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:54 amTeacher:
“Okay class. Today’s lesson in Don’t be an a$$hole class ‘Admitting When You Are Wrong’”
Bush:
“I knew this was a bad idea. I’m outa here.”
Teacher:
“Let’s get started class.”
Rumsfeld:
“Screw this, I’m gone too.”
Teacher:
“Okay, pipe down class.”
Cheney:
November 5th, 2005 at 11:55 am“Go fvck yourself teacher.”
Bush: Teacher, don’t call on me, please. I’m just auditing the class.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:58 amDailyKos is reporting that the UN is asking the US to repay millions for work performed (not performed?) by a Halliburton subsidiary. It just keeps on coming.
November 5th, 2005 at 12:01 pmPosturing for the “It was an accident” defense. I heard a talking head once describe Fitz as being politically savvy enough not to break the machine all at once.
November 5th, 2005 at 12:06 pmI think this is preparation for the inevitable attempted salvation of Bush as a person.
An oldie, but goodie. Excerpts from Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for New White House Staff [my emphasis]
President Bush said “First, we must remember the high standards that come with high office. This begins with careful adherence to the rules. I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries that define legal and ethical conduct. This means avoiding even the appearance of problems. This means checking and, if need be, doublechecking that the rules have been obeyed. This means never compromising those rules. No one in the White House should be afraid to confront the people they work for, for ethical concerns. And no one should hesitate to confront me, as well. We’re all accountable to one another. And above all, we’re all accountable to the law and to the American people. My White House Counsel, Al Gonzalez, is my point man on these issues. If you have even a hint of ethical doubt, I urge you to talk to Al.
“Second, we must remember that high standards of conduct involve not only obeying the law but showing civility. As we go about our work, there is no excuse for arrogance and never a reason for disrespect toward others. People who work here are highly visible throughout the Government. In many ways, in many of your dealings, you’ll be the face and voice of the White House staff. You will be my representative. I expect each of you, as an official of this administration, to be an example of humility and decency and fairness. And finally, we must all remember that we are here for a reason. You and I and the Vice President share the same goals for our country and the same commitment to achieving them. We are here to make progress. We are not here just to mark time. The next few weeks, we’ll affirm the central policy goals of this administration, beginning this week with education reform.”
We all know what has happened since 2001. So when Bush said those things, was he lying? Or was he too weak to enforce the standards?
(If the above link doesn’t work, search for “Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for New White House Staff” in the 2001 collection
November 5th, 2005 at 12:07 pmat NARA.)
Let him bring , Carville and Billy-Bob ,they’ll clear up this mess ….they may not offend his base , afer all they is good ‘ol boys.
November 5th, 2005 at 12:26 pm“Now class, I want you all to read this sentence aloud.”
I will not subvert democracy, start illegal wars, torture people, promote propaganda, sow discord with the world and treat the people of America like slaves, cattle and refuse.
“Now write that 100 times EVERYONE.”
“I will be in the lunchroom, if anyone needs to talk to me please raise your hand and the moniter, from Mexico who is getting paid $5.25, will come and get me.”
“By the way, I am the new head of the Department of Ethics and Decency, my name is Michael Brown, you can call me Mr. Brown, my friends call me Brownie.”
“Mr. Rove, stop lifting Ms. Hughes skirt with your ruler”
“Mr. Rumsfeld, please put the battery charger and thumbscrews away”
“Mr. Bush, please put the bottle of Jack Daniels down and take of the crown off of your head and replace the globe to where it belongs”
“Mr. Cheney?”, “Mr. Cheney?” “Has anyone seen Mr. Cheney”?
-GSD
November 5th, 2005 at 1:06 pmJust because an alcoholic attends AA meetings (or, instead of meetings, is born again), doesn’t mean they will never drink again.
These people ara as addicted to the unethical as an alcoholic is to booze.
November 5th, 2005 at 1:10 pmCan’t possibly be a refresher course. This will be new to all of them. The ethical ones were sent packing long ago. You tell the truth, you’re gone.
November 5th, 2005 at 1:10 pmThe class will be using the textbook, “Remedial Ethics For The Criminally Insane.”
November 5th, 2005 at 1:11 pmGSD, that’s some funny sh*t. One slight adjustment might be in order though.
“Mr. Rove could you please keep your pencil away from Mr. Gannon’s sharpener.”
November 5th, 2005 at 1:13 pmHmm isn’t the horse already out of the barn…Is bush/cheney going to attend? Taught by Harry huh,(giggle giggle)..Whew I just had to catch my breath.Wow I’m impressed.. Who would’ve thot letting a fox teach the henhouse… better watch those lottery errr eggs…
Will the press catch on? Hell NO! They are just enablers to this cabal of neo cons….
On the bright side hopefully cheney/rove gets nabbed this week and then the W.H. gets busted! We then could undo some of the damage that this cabal has done.
Roll back them Taxes .. Now!!!!!!Bring the Troops Home Now!!! Put a Moderate on the bench!! Now!!!
November 5th, 2005 at 1:14 pmThis shrub is such a fool as to think this will placate the american people in regards to his ethics problems. What will satisfy me is all of them out on their cowboy asses.
November 5th, 2005 at 1:20 pmQ: What do you do with a drunken sailor?
A: Public relations.
Is there any difference between Bush and the captain of the Exxon Valdez? Any difference in the fake PR response?
http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/CSRfiles/crisis03.html
http://www.albionmonitor.com/9905a/jbpr.htmlhttp://www.albionmonitor.com/9905a/jbpr.html
November 5th, 2005 at 1:47 pmHow simply sad of this Bush bunch. They are going to play another diluded game, send up another bill to strip more off the middle and poor tax payers, put through more benefits for the rich, help Pombo sell off our parks, BLM, forests and wild areas with no restrictions and probably bomb another country. We must do all we can to get this hated drunk,druggie out of the white house. Think I will start wrighting all the Republican representatives along with the Dems. This is all to bazarr……Blessings……Some sort of revolt must be near with all this crazyiness…
November 5th, 2005 at 1:57 pmWe have just announced the schedule for future courses.
Next week
“How not to start unnecessary wars and kill thousands.”
The president will lead this class and the guest speaker will be Evil Cheney, a man with experience in starting unnecessary wars. Civilian cowboys may attend at for a modest fee. Not allowed during this discussion, “Let’s nuke em.”
Week after
November 5th, 2005 at 2:15 pm“Recapturing your common sense.”
Self explanatory. If you didn’t have common sense before you got here, don’t come looking for it. Plenty of seats available for this one.
Week After
“How to stave off impeachment”
This may be our most important refresher class and all the remaining watergate crew will be guest speakers.
Warning; This class is subject to cancellation should we be impeached prior to the class.
Addendum to previous post by Nowar.
November 5th, 2005 at 2:24 pmFor undisclosed reasons the president will not be present for “Recapturing common sense.”
Can they get any more ridiculous?
November 5th, 2005 at 2:31 pmHow did anyone rise to the level of White House Staff and still need to be taught this? The ones who need this class are Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rice, Rumsfeld, Hadley, Bolton, Card and others. If this class is for the office personnel, then maybe it is likely a refresher on how to cover up for your superior; the protocol on what to destroy when he/she is indicted.
Can the staff of Sen. Charles Schumer that stole Lt.Gov Michael Steele’s credit report go? Can the Washington Post reporter that used a login on FreeRepublic to aid in propagating scandal rumors against the Mayor of Baltimore attend?
The lawfirm I work with requires ethics training every year, regardless of your seniority.
I’m fine with the classes.
richb
November 5th, 2005 at 3:08 pmWell, better late than never i guess…
November 5th, 2005 at 3:16 pmThe only way for Bush/Cheney/Rove to restore Honor and Integrity to the White House is to resign.
November 5th, 2005 at 3:19 pmRichB, how many of those examples you stated involved killing thousands of people for some pie in the sky delusional foreign policy? This won’t be Ethics 101, but an introductory course in Basic Ethics for Boneheads.
November 5th, 2005 at 3:30 pmRichB,
That’s a false claim, what you say happened, never happened. You’re a hack, and a stupid fool.
November 5th, 2005 at 3:38 pm“The lawfirm I work with requires ethics training every year, regardless of your seniority.”RichTheLiar
Then you should pay attention in class. Making knowlingly false accusations like you did against Schumer is unethical. Clearly you’re a bad lawyer and a bad american.
November 5th, 2005 at 3:39 pmA lawfirm with ethics
November 5th, 2005 at 3:43 pmIsn’t that one of those oxymoron things?
This ethics class requirement was a little-noticed provision in the “no criminal left behind act.”
Bet they never thought it would come back to bite them.
HA!
New on EWM: “Operation Choke the Chickenâ€
DHS won’t be caught with its pants down by Avian Flu
November 5th, 2005 at 4:18 pmWhere’s the right wingers here? It appears they even have a limit to the rediculous crap.
November 5th, 2005 at 4:43 pmCan most of the folks in the USA go, it comes back to us people who have allowed this to come about.
November 5th, 2005 at 4:45 pmIt’s a little late to have a class on this, the damage has been done. This does not only affect Wilson wife but other people she was closely working with.
November 5th, 2005 at 4:56 pmA course on ethics? Give me a break. This bunch are pathalogical liars and a postgraduate degree on ethics would be completely irrelevant to their behaviour. This ethics course is such a obvious whitewash that they should hold it on Saturday Night Live.
While holding the session on ethics, Bush should also read the Geneva Conventios, the Convention on Torture and the UN Charter and throw in a lesson on Article VI of the constitution and the War Crimes Act.
Author of “Lying for Empire: How to Commit War Crimes wih a Straight Face”
November 5th, 2005 at 5:36 pmThe Saturday nitwit on CNN just said that the refresher course was on “handling classified material” — ah yes, a reminder of what will happen to them if they leak anything unfavorable to the King and his court.
November 5th, 2005 at 5:37 pmThere is no one left in the Bush admin. who has ever spoken against him. They leave for personal reasons, or they are fired, or they retire early. Their books are labeled “sour grapes” by Republicans, and they fade into the distance. They may all have reunion party soon, when Cheney and Bush finally get indicted.
NY times has article for tomorrow.”What Bush knew about leaks and when?”
November 5th, 2005 at 5:43 pmCould be interesting. I would like to know what Judith Miller knew and when.
Class will be held right after the prayer meeting.
November 5th, 2005 at 6:51 pm“President Bush has ordered White House staff to attend mandatory briefings beginning next week on ethical behavior”
LMAO!
November 6th, 2005 at 2:24 pmHas any of the media covered the response from those who were reported as having voted for Dubya last year based on “moral” issues and how they feel about this call for ethics classes?
November 7th, 2005 at 5:23 amDidn’t Dubya run in 2000 as a candidate who would “restore” ethics to the Presidency? (Granted, he didn’t say *when* he would do it, but I’d think his supporters–you know, the ones that Abramoff and crew called “wackos”–probably expected it to happen pretty shortly after Jan 20, 2001.)
Are they going to be taught what ethitical behavior is or how to avoid getting caught when engaging in behavior that isn’t?
November 7th, 2005 at 12:27 pmmassage training
Good post. I am looking into these issues on my blog.
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