Bush: Gonzales ‘answered as honestly as he could.’
Bush: Gonzales ‘answered as honestly as he could.’
President Bush this morning stood by his beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Bush said Gonzales “gave a very candid assessment” and “answered every answer he could possibly answer, honestly answer, in a way that increased my confidence in his ability to do his job.” He concluded, “Some senators didn’t like his explanation, but he answered as honestly as he could.” Watch it:
Bush’s vigorous defense of Gonzales can be seen as an effort to shield the White House from scrutiny. McClatchy notes Gonzales’ testimony “failed to resolve Congress’ central questions,” specifically “who in the Bush administration conceived the plan to fire eight U.S. attorneys and why. … Absent another explanation, the signs point to the White House and, at least in some degree, to the president’s political adviser, Karl Rove.”
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Excuse me, but how does Bush know that?
Unless he instructed Gonzales only to tell so much – but no more?
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:26 amBush said Gonzales “gave a very candid assessment†and “answered every answer he could possibly answer, honestly answer…”
There is some truth in what Bush said. He answered every question he could “honestly answer”. And if he couldn’t “honestly answer” he couldn’t recall or couldn’t remember. Nice try George. It isn’t going to work, though. The American public are finally on to you.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 amIf Bush accepts Gonzales’ statements as a “candid assessment” then it’s all so much clearer now how the “CEO President” came to accept Cheney.
Everything Cheney does is a “candid assessment” by definition.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:28 amClearly, words like “honestly” and “candid” have a different meaning for W than for the rest of us.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:28 amBull shit bush is not looking to good this morning..The phot look’s like he was drinking Cutty along with his pablum….Wow!..
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:32 amSSDD….Blessings
The Bush Administration in a nutshell: “we answered as honestly as we could.â€
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:32 amThe head bushie is in a state of denial. After all facing up to his own incompetence, ineptitude, and disconnectedness, is going to have to be forced on him.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:34 am………………….
When Duhhbya said “he answered as honestly as he couldâ€, that was actually a sentence fragment.
The complete, factual sentence would have ended “he answered as honestly as he could without providing evidence that he, Cheney, Turd Blossom and I are guilty of subverting the Department of Justice for partisan political purposes. â€
………………..
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:35 amChimpy has been hitting the sauce again. What a complete embarrassment to the country and the world.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:35 amImpeach!
Bush isn’t lying. Gonzo answered as honestly as he could. Not as honest as he should have and maybe barely honest at all but it was as much as he could.
That’s what our President accepts from the Chief law enforcement officer of the land. Not what the Amercian people deserve but it’s what the Decider thought was acceptable.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:35 amre: the sub-caption under Dumbya’s picture…
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:37 amwhat the hell is this “artificial timetable” phrase, other than Rovian doublespeak?
Such bushsit…..
so, another admission by bush that corruption is what he is after
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:38 amif this guy is good, what in that pea brain can be considered bad?
“Some senators didn’t like his explanation, but he answered as honestly as he could.â€
Coming from you, Chimpy, that ain’t sayin’ much.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 amApparently, “I don’t recall…” is a satisfactory answer for GW Bush. At least it’s better than what he might have said if he did recall and told the truth about what he knew.
I never before realized that the initials A. G. actually stand for Ass Guard, since that’s what he does for Bush. That’s why Bush thought he did such a good job.
“Heckuva job Fredo!”
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 am“answered every answer he could possibly answer, honestly answer,…”
the other answers to answers which could not be
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:41 amhonestly answered, were answered with
“i don’t recall”…
…
Gonzo answered as honestly as his programming would allow.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 am“…he answered as honestly as he could.â€
“…considering that he’s a pathological liar just like me.”
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 amAs a famous cartoon character has said many atime…
Dig a hole, dig a hole…
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 amBush said Gonzales “gave a very candid assessment†and “answered every answer he could possibly answer, honestly answer…
George you forgot to finish your statement…
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:44 am“without getting us all impeached!”
He didn’t just answer honestly. He answered as honestly as he could. Weird: conditional honesty in the Justice Department.
How Discussing!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:45 am“This is an honest, honorable man, in whom I have confidence.” That’s some of Bush’s best grammar ever. It’s still the kiss of death for Gonzales fortunately. If Wolfowitz gets canned then it’s just a few more steps towards total retribution.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:46 amBush said Gonzales “gave a very candid assessment†and “answered every answer he could possibly answer, honestly answer, in a way that increased my confidence in his ability to do his job in keeping the family secrets.â€
The quote is now correct.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:46 amkate henry – i swear i posted my comment before reading any here…
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:47 ambut that one was so obvious…
heh…
Gonzales answered as honestly as he could…so screw you!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:48 amDoesn’t Bush work for the American people? His simplistic rationale for accepting Gonzales’ answers is simply unacceptable. Where is accountability in government?
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:51 amCAPTION CONTEST:
This is the Yellow tie they gave me for my Service back in Nam!
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:52 amThe whole Bush Administration is just pathetic. It’s no wonder, no surprise. Since Bush himself is utterly incompetent, there is no reason to think that any of the usual appointments for the Executive Branch would somehow go against the grain and show any competence.
Worst president ever may be arguable, but there is no doubt that he is the most embarrassing.
No, really, rest of the world, Americans aren’t that stupid.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:53 am“As honestly as he could” = “lied his ass off to protect my ass”
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:53 amAt this point, I think the media is skewing poll numbers to keep this dickhead at around 30 percent. No one – no none – I know still supports this tool or his minions.
But Congress can’t seem to act on anything. It seems as if they’ve taken the old addage that the wheels of Justice turn slowly, and turned it into a Rule of Proceedure.
How much smoke do we need to see and smell before someone in a position of authority decides that it would be prudent to find the source and extinguish it? At this point, the man on the street knows knows what’s happening, because the pavement is heating up.
The Democrats are still feckless. What the F is up with dat?
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:54 amWhat does “he answered as honestly as he could” mean?
This sounds like an admission that Gonzales was covering something up. Refusing to fully and truthfully answer questions posed by Congress should be grounds for Contempt of Congress. Basically, Gonzales took the 5th by answering “I don’t recall” a total of something like 70 times during the questioning.
This also sounds like Gonzales was under orders by the Whithouse to not give honest answers.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:55 amAnd Bush is doing a good a job as he can. And Cheney is as nice as he can be. And Rove is as polite as he can be.
It’s all so clear to me now.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:56 am#26…. great caption!
(and to continue…:
“Huh? I got it on backwards?”
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:58 am“answered [...] in a way that increased my confidence in his ability to do his job.â€
there you go…
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:00 am“heckuva job, gonzo”…
At this point, I think the media is skewing poll numbers to keep this dickhead at around 30 percent. No one – no none – I know still supports this tool or his minions.
Comment by smafdy — April 23, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Remember, if you add up all of the people who believe Elvis is alive, plus the people who believe they were abducted by aliens, plus the people who do not follow politics because they are too busy rolling on the floor speaking in tongues, you have quite a few people. Throw in those who believe the Earth is flat, and those who have a vested financial interest in Bush’s policies, and I bet you have pretty close to 30%. Don’t forget all of the poor people in Alabama who sent all their money to the TV preacher.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:00 amGonzales honestly doesn’t recall why he was put in charge of the Justice Department, honestly.
From my observations, when people say honestly over and over, it usually indicates that they’re being dishonest.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:01 amBush may be correct; Gonzo may be incapable of telling the truth.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:01 am“No artificial timetable” = “Endless war”.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 amGeorge W. Bush, the President of the United States, is a pathological liar. It is out in the open for all to see. And yet 30% of American adults continue to support this defect. Why?
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 am“I strongly reject this MORON posing as the President”
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:06 amBush’s statement is little more than PR speak. “answered as honestly as he could”, translated from PR to regular English is actually, “answered only what I would allow him to answer.”
Remember, this admin loves loyalty and cronyism more than anything. As long as Gonzales pulls this crap, Bush will protect him. The second Gonzales lets the truth slip out he’ll be gone. Then again, if this investigation goes nowhere then once it blows over I guarantee Gonzales will “resign to spend more time with family”…which of course will be “the plan all along.”
We’ve seen this before.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:06 am#34 Chris L
Hilarious post! Thanks.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:07 amThis also sounds like Gonzales was under orders by the Whithouse to not give honest answers.
Comment by DallasNE — April 23, 2007 @ 10:55 am
I see that just about everyone has picked up on the subtext of Bush’s speech and the meaning of “as honestly as he could”. Bush might as well have said that Gonzales lied. Funny thing, though, I think Bush understands this perfectly well. He is telling us this as a way to assert his control and thumb his nose at the world.
This sort of childish response is typical of Bush, and I find it very scary.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:09 amAlberto Gonzales, answering “honestly”…
“While I am grateful for the public service of these seven U.S. attorneys, they simply lost my confidence.”
- Alberto Gonzales, March 6th, USA Today Op-Ed
“During those conversations, to my knowledge, I did not make decisions about who should or should not be asked to resign.”
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:12 am- Alberto Gonzales, April 15, Washington Post Op-Ed
Caption Contest:
Oh pardon me, Gonzo makes me gassy.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:14 amOnly a FOOL would defend this man.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:16 am“no artificial time table” + manmade walls in baghdad + iraqi troops not able to ’stand up’ [after how many years] = bad news for u.s. troops and worse news for parents of those troops
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:17 amIn the beginning, did u notice the marquee lauding Yeltsin for “pushing Russia to embrace Democracy?” Too bad we can’t have something like that happen here in the USA. Noam Chomsky draws out just what we might see if Democracy were to take root in the corporatist homeland:
http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=182214
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:21 amare “artificial timetables” anything like an “imaginary war plan for iraq”?
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:21 amShit. 637 more days of this flippin’ madness.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:25 amHey, stonehinge, long time no see…
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:28 amCaption Contest:
Hold on… I just ate a pretzel… help…
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:31 amIt was a “canned” assessment, not a “candid” one.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:32 amEveryone else in the Justice Department thinks of Gonzo as a stupid inept clown, and Bush still thinks he’s effective as the AG? What’s Bush smoking this time? This just adds to the long list of reasons why Bush is the most stupid, bullying, dirty, immoral prez in the history of USA. He needs to be impeached and removed RIGHT NOW ASAP. We can’t wait for 1.5 yrs for him to step down. He needs to go now.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:34 amYeah, chimpy, ‘just pretend its’ ALL O.K.”,
OK, chimpy??????????????
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:44 amEvery day the Democratic leadership doesn’t move towards impleachment is a strike against them.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:52 amWhat what…
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:03 pm“but he answered as honestly as he could.â€
Is that not the same as saying…
“but he lied as little as he could!”
Let’s think a minute…you’d think this Gonzo guy would be pretty smart being where he is……but the way he forgets things…it’s a miracle that he can find where he works…..and the bank where he cashes his checks…..nevermind…..he must have a driver….
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:04 pm….without incriminating himself.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:11 pmHmmm, If W had told us AG is not going to be replaced I would only have given him a week before he got fired. ‘I have confidence’ means a month till he is fired…
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:16 pmEither tonight or tomorrow you’ll definitely see an Alberto Gonzales-style “I Done Spoke Wrong” press release or something coming from the Oval Office:
“Hyuh Hyuh Hyuh, y’see, what I meant to say was he answered as honestly as he was permitted to by me, the decider. ER, hyuh hyuh hyuh, I meant he done good, reel (sic) good fer us good ‘ol boys! Er, I meant, umm….look over there, Osama bin Laden!? WMD’s!?”
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:18 pmIt is quiet obvious in this case, the name GONZOLAS means SCAPEGOAT. I can’t help but wonder how long politics is going to tolerate this “happy horse mess”. All this man has done is what he was told to do, and that is the requirement for any employee. It is so wrong to handle this man so cruely without dealing with the “one who set him up”. The one who set him up, continues to stand by him, as well as being tolerated.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:31 pmSo, the TRUTH, WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
has been replaced by “AS HONESTLY AS I CAN…”
Bush, Gonzo, etc. are TRAITORS TO THE USA.
See you in hell Gonzo (cause I’LL be THERE),
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:34 pmMr. Bush
MURDEROUS WAR CRIMINAL
COXUCKER PUNK TRAITOR TO THE USA (TM)
So, has the Attorney General now provided the country with a model for how to testify when under oath?
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:40 pmJeez… W isn’t even TRYING to hide the fact that he’s forcing people to keep their mouths shut. “As honestly as he COULD” please…
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:44 pmAs best he could for a compulsive liar with no spine of his own.
April 23rd, 2007 at 12:47 pmOf course, Bush has confidence in Gonzales… confidence that this is one he better not throw overboard as AG the AG knows where the bodies are buried going back to Texas in ‘95.
“Answered as honestly as he could?” Sure as honestly as he could without incriminating Bush, Rove, Meirs, and x number of White House staff that are privy to this.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:12 pm“The American people need to understand…� Where do these people in the Bush Administration get off tell me and you what we need to understand? I do understand. I went to college, even got an MBA. I read the news, I listen to commentary, I do understand. And what I understand most clearly is when I am being lied to.
That is the single biggest reason I cannot stand this administration and never have. I cannot stand being lied to. I don’t abide it from my kids, from my employer, from anyone, but especially nor from my employee. And despite Karl Rove’s delusion that Sheryl Crow and Laurie David are not his bosses, I am one of his bosses and I cannot abide and refuse to be lied to by these employees. Since Bush was governor of Texas, he has been lying and the lies just keep on rolling. And I have to understand?
On another note, how must Harvard feel knowing that two of its most prominent graduates are such liars and buffoons? My MBA is from the University of Texas and if this guy was in any of my classes, I believe he would have been the one nobody wanted in his group while preparing case studies. And Gonzales? If that is what a Harvard Law degree exemplifies, then we have been duped into believing that Harvard is the best American education has to offer.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:23 pmDumbya Bush speaks to the public as if we were incapable of understanding anything beyond his own limited abilities.
Additionally, how could Bush know that AG answered as honestly as he could — unless he knows what limits were placed on AG’s testimony?
The phrase “as he could” also implies a hedge: perhaps, as honestly as he could considering he was unable/unwilling to say any more.
As for the question he took regarding the Iraq spending bill — let us all recall that it is he, the decider, who has announced he will veto the bill that will supply funding for the troops.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:47 pmIt his he, the decider, who will be delaying the funds he says are so critically necessary for troops on the ground.
It is he, the decider, who has decided that he will not compromise and will operate only by his rules.
He, the decider, is deciding to carry on with this already-lost war until such time as he can pass it in an even worse state with all of its responsibility to the Democrats when they take over in 2009.
WASHINGTON – Alberto Gonzales, with a fresh vote of confidence from
President Bush, vowed Monday to remain as attorney general despite lingering differences with senators over the firing of federal prosecutors.
Appearing at a news conference on identity theft, Gonzales said he will remain “as long as I can continue to serve effectively.“
Then the question is. . . Why are you still here?
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:37 pmIs there any kind of organized movement to push Gonzales to resign? Because I’m apalled that he’s not resigning. Let me know- murrayof@yahoo.com
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:42 pmI fear nothing will stop this administration from its continued
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:52 pmabuse of the Constitution.
Oversight? overrated if you are not willing to impeach
You could see Ed Henry on CNN choking back a smile when he was reporting on Bush’s defence of GOnZo… and then his line about “Bush is getting his back up” and not letting those outside of the white house tell him what to do… the idiom… it didn’t quite make sense to me until I substited Bush for “Chimpy is getting his back up” and it all made sense…. hahahahaa
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:05 pm“answered as honestly as he could” = incapable of any more honesty than the tiny bit he may have uttered = really prefers lying = gets a rash when he says anything that is true = didn’t want his nose to visibly grow = didn’t want to stray from script = finds honesty distressing = can’t say anything substantively true without submissively wetting himself = was hypnotized to utter bald-faced lies = is paid to keep lying = was bought years ago by megacorporations = thinks no one is listening anyway
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:41 pmTRANSLATION:
“He answered as “honestly” as Iwould’ve”…
-Bushiva-
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 pm