WH gives talking points to right-wing bloggers.
Seeking “to promote its message on the subject of executive privilege,” the White House held a conference call with conservative bloggers this morning where they sought to “familiarize the blogosphere with the legal and political arguments on which the administration will rely” to respond to contempt citations from Congress in the U.S. attorneys probe.
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I wondered where all the usual trolls were today…
July 27th, 2007 at 4:00 pmThat sounds about right.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:01 pmYou can fool 30% of the people all the time but the majority 70% see right through the lies.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:02 pmDid they ever invite other ‘Non - Right Wingers’ bloggers?!!
July 27th, 2007 at 4:04 pmLets all go there and post some home truths to Bush .
Hes out the bubble lets get him
July 27th, 2007 at 4:04 pmIt’s not in the Constitution. It’s not an inherent power of the executive branch. It’s a PRIVILEGE afforded to the executive branch by the OTHER BRANCHES of the US Government.
IE. We’ll respect yours if you respect ours.
Since the executive branch seems to be disrespecting theirs, they are going to disrespect executive privilege.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:05 pmNeed to synch up again? It does seem that the trolls were straying a little off message and not really earning their money.
Let KKKarl lift his leg and exude a cloud of pheremones, the trolls will all be reciting the same memes again.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:05 pmfigures - people incapable of thinking for themselves always need to be fed their lines so they know what to say and think - kind of like Pavlov’s dog
July 27th, 2007 at 4:06 pmThe single thing this WH has definitely accomplished is that they’ve taught the majority of americans how to ferret out the truth from their spin and lies. Now when americans even hear that something is a “talking point”, they automatically assume it’s bull$hit.
The spinmeister in chief can hold all the conferences he wants but his claims for “executive privilege” will no longer hold water. It is definitely not mentioned in the Constitution of this country so it has no basis in the law of this land.
It’s a presidential construct which, at least in this administration, is synonymous with being “illegitimate”.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:06 pmis bush doing conference calls with maliki again looking for gas for his Humvie
July 27th, 2007 at 4:06 pmI wonder if they discussed Clinton and Rwanda on that conference call.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:06 pmWhat do you expect? It’s not like you all aren’t giving your talking points the Dem candidates - it was very apparent in Monday’s night debates. Hillary’s red meat comment about the 2000 election should do wonders for the GOP come 2008.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pmwell… duh
July 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pmAlready trying to set the tone in the corporate media, I see.
They used to do this through carefully orchestrated “leaks”. Now they just tell the media what to say. They’re not even trying to be subtle anymore.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pmNot only that, it only applies WHEN THE PRESIDENT is involved in the conversations, you know, him being the EXECUTIVE?
Since he was NOT in the conversations with the AG firings, executive privilege does NOT APPLY, and if he WAS in the conversations, then he is admitting to breaking the law, and even THEN executive privilege does not apply.
So, either way, he’s an idiot.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pmHe’s running scared because constitutional experts and constituional lawyers are linking up and have determined that his use of executive privilege is illegal.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pmIt’s not like you all aren’t giving your talking points the Dem candidates -
Quite the contrary - we give THEM THEIR talking points.
Because we want them to do our bidding, not the other way around.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:08 pmNow when americans even hear that something is a “talking pointâ€, they automatically assume it’s bull$hit.
The spinmeister in chief can hold all the conferences he wants but his claims for “executive privilege†will no longer hold water. It is definitely not mentioned in the Constitution of this country so it has no basis in the law of this land.
It’s a presidential construct which, at least in this administration, is synonymous with being “illegitimateâ€.
Comment by veritas — July 27, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
Just remember, veritas, you can’t spell “Bullsh!t” without B-U-S-H!
July 27th, 2007 at 4:08 pmI’m so confused! I thought that all the right wingers, like Novak, hated bloggers.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:08 pmHrr: You got it. Either way Bush is in the middle of a cavernous cesspool right now and it appears to be devouring him right before our very eyes….oops…I see that Abu Gonzo just was overtaken by the vortex…..and Bush is doggy-paddling his fool a$$ off but going nowhere. Soon we’ll see Cheney being sucked up….and by the end of August, Bush won’t have a job to come back to from his vacation.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:09 pmOT - Cheney is again undergoing surgery tomorrow making Pelosi Speaker of the House interim VP.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:09 pmspit take: Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. I love it!
July 27th, 2007 at 4:10 pmNothing is going to “do wonders” for the GOP. As a former Republican (youthful indiscretion), I still have moments when I lament the GOP’s death. But it’s on its last legs nonetheless.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:11 pmIf this doesn’t tell you how scared this administration and the conservative media is of the blogosphere, I don’t know what else will.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:11 pmThe way their going after Moore (like vipers)….is there still any doubt that they intentionally outed Valerie Plame just to get even??
July 27th, 2007 at 4:11 pmKiki: Just remind yourself that this republican party is nothing like it’s predecessors. At least some of them had respect for the rule of law in this country…something painfully absent from today’s capricious GOpers.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:12 pmWH - We can search all your personal records without warrants, detain you without cause or Habeaus Corpus, we can scrutinize EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU.
However, those rules do not in any way apply to us.
Do as we say, not as we do.
-GWB
July 27th, 2007 at 4:13 pmThis should be good. The privileged bloggers will look very awkward if they try to peddle these talking points as their own.
The problem with defending executive privilege is that its constituency is extremely narrow–pretty much the problem with defending the Cheney-Bush administration. No one but the privileged executive can look too credible defending the privilege.
Only the most abject sycophant will be able to put any authentic energy defending the unitary executive’s power, and the emptiness of any argument will be on clear display. It’s going to be awkward to shout from the rooftops that executive privilege is essential because I shouldn’t know what the president is doing, and he shouldn’t care what would think about it if I did.
Executive privilege may be necessary, but it’s hard to paint it as desirable, because it’s anti-democratic and anti-accountability.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:13 pmA little “Inherent Contempt” will muffle those talking points, I would think!!
Take that, fu**er!!
July 27th, 2007 at 4:14 pmTalking-point: an uncomfortable truth, repeated.
Talking-point (lefty): what’s spilled onto the blogrolls to use against conservatives after a cordial consersation with Bin Laden.
Thank you, lefties, for exposing your fear.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:14 pmBut George Soros has undue influence with all of his money and power! Unlike poor, weak Fox News and Rupert Murdoch and their alliance with Bush and Cheney.
We must stop Soros because he will use his radio stations and news networks……..Oh, Soros doesn’t own ANY networks, cable channels, newspapers, satellite stations at all?
Never mind.
-GSD
July 27th, 2007 at 4:14 pmNo Shock here. Those on the right tend to not be able to think for themselves. They must have fatherly leaders that tell them how to march.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:15 pmOT - Cheney is again undergoing surgery tomorrow making Pelosi Speaker of the House interim VP.
You know, if Pelosi is temporary VP, then who is temporary speaker of the house? Perhaps THAT person will have the guts to do the right job and put forth article of impeachment.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:16 pmI bet that conference call on speaker phone sounded like a pasture full of sheep.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:17 pmTalking-point: an uncomfortable truth, repeated.
Comment by CT Scan — July 27, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
Repeated, until is shown to be a lie.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:17 pmSpit Take~~ Bush minus BS equals Uh!!
July 27th, 2007 at 4:18 pmI bet that conference call on speaker phone sounded like a pasture full of sheep.
Comment by WaltinTexas — July 27, 2007 @ 4:17 pm
Approval of comment.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:19 pmNo, you’re kidding.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:19 pmAll these people parroting the same words have no connection to the central Borg leader.
Surprise, surprise, surprise
#36,
Was that supposed to make sense?
Again I say, construct sentences that make sense, it makes it so much more enjoyable for the reader.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:19 pmWill Pelosi have the combination to that man-sized safe in Cheney’s office?
July 27th, 2007 at 4:20 pmthe way this admin uses certain elements of the press makes me think of the former state run Solviet system. what confuses me is that there are people out there that love it. my feeling is that the anger directed at random targets by Bill O’Rilley, talk radio or Rush Limbaugh feels good for a while for a lot of people. But in my mind, the popularity of this relationship between the right wing media and the Bush admin is really not good for our country.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:20 pmREF> #21. I’m so confused! I thought that all the right wingers, like Novak, hated bloggers.
IOKIYAR - The GOP Fighting Keyboardists > them’s real bloggers - bloggers with hero worship bar none for the likes of NOVAK
Rightwing bloggers love all the MiddleEast Terrorist ooggie boogie stuff - just go to Little Green Footballs to see what I mean. It will make you puke.
Glad DailyKos beat out LGF last year for 2006 Best Politcal Blog
July 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pmLeft Wing Talking Points….
-Christian are evil…
July 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pm-Hillary is Queen
-Clinton could do no wrong
-Bush lied us into war
-Abortion is choice
-Conservatives should be locked up
-Impeach Alito
-Barbara Boxer is intelligent
-Queer is in
-Muslims love America
-The French rule
-I heart my white flag
#17 #9 - STFU, you closet case. You are full of hate and lies. People like you should be tried for treason and slander.
Comment by God Help Us
Must be a bit nervous about what is going to happen, huh?
But it will be over pretty soon, and you will be OK, just will have a few less heroes walking free. Maybe you can send them cute little love emails notes to “camp Gitmo”. I am sure they will appreciate the warm thoughts between visits from Bruto, the man-raper.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pmTalking-point (lefty): what’s spilled onto the blogrolls to use against conservatives after a cordial consersation with Bin Laden.
A supporter of President “bin Laden’s bitch” Bush is accusing US of consorting to the enemy?
CT’s not even smart enough to be a fifth-column, he’s just an accidental irony-murderer.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:22 pm.
Where is the pull back button?
No, you’re kidding.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:22 pmAll these people parroting the same words have a connection to the central Borg leader.
Surprise, surprise, surprise
Isn’t executive privilege supposed to be reserved for national security concerns and is usually invoked on rare occaisions?
Just reminiscing.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:22 pmMore talking points….
-Kill Dick Cheney and Halliburton
July 27th, 2007 at 4:23 pm-Kill pro-lifers
-Race baiting is fun
Comment by Texas Democrat — July 27, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
No. There’s nothing wrong with the definitions/sentence structure. I’m sorry you pretend to feel that way.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:25 pm#52 - thank you for pointing out the left’s hatred for basic civil rights unless you’re a terrorist or vicious murderer.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:25 pmHelp me out here.
The WH holds a press conference where the press of all the news agencies of the world comes to hear and report on the WH statements and can analyze these statements in their reporting.
1) so are these bloggers journalists and if so are they reporting things that won’t stand up to scrutiny (or are they subcontrators to the RNC) ?
July 27th, 2007 at 4:25 pm2) if the arguments are so good, why aren’t they being given at the press conferences ?
god help you -
How many combat tours have you pulled so far? Or which military or government contractor do you work for? Care to share?
Thought not.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:26 pmREF > #51 Left Wing Talking Points….
-Christian are evil… (yep - needs to be out of politics 4 sure)
-Hillary is Queen (nope)
-Clinton could do no wrong (he likes women - yep)
-Bush lied us into war (he did)
-Abortion is choice (yep - last time I checked the law)
-Conservatives should be locked up (nope just put in their place and charged with crimes when they commit one)
-Impeach Alito (yep - he lied about his positions at his confirmation so did Roberts)
-Barbara Boxer is intelligent (yep)
-Queer is in (yep)
-Muslims love America (nope - we just don’t hate them like you do)
-The French rule (pass the fries please)
-I heart my white flag (Chickenhawks rule the GOP) ( what is your point?)
Comment by God Help Us — July 27, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
July 27th, 2007 at 4:26 pmWhy won’t God help “God Help Us”? All this time later and he’s still a paranoid idiot.
Is leaving “God Help Us” ignorant and cowardly just another part of His plan? My God, why have you forsaken “God Help Us”? Is this some kind of cosmic joke?
July 27th, 2007 at 4:28 pm.
#58
Dude, you are waaaaaaaaaay out there.
“I’m sorry you pretend to feel that way”
Huh? Why would you be sorry? Why do you think I’m pretending to feel any particular way? And what way exactly are you asserting that I feel?
Your posts don’t make sense to rational adults.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:29 pm#52 - thank you for pointing out the left’s hatred for basic civil rights unless you’re a terrorist or vicious murderer.
Comment by God Help Us — July 27, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
You know, God Help Us, you’re right.
As a member of the left, I will indeed support George Bush’s civil rights when he is dragged before the Hague.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:29 pm.
They are puttting the finishing touches on the alternate reality they creating for their followers.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:29 pm#59 #52 - thank you for pointing out the left’s hatred for basic civil rights unless you’re a terrorist or vicious murderer.
Comment by God Help Us
WOW!!! You do project a LOT. Must be your fear of those bad civil rights and that nasty ol’ Constitution. But guess you still have your Timothy McVeigh poster up over mom’s computer, huh? Is your NRA card a gold status?
July 27th, 2007 at 4:30 pmNothing like a room full of Texans kicking the crap out of snivelling bushtards to put a smile on your face.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:31 pm.
#67,
Amen to that!
I’ve had about enough of the reatrds now in control of our government. I’ve had to endure twelve long years of Dubya’s rule, six as governor and six as the decider and it has been depressing beyond belief.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:36 pm“If Congress pursues criminal contempt and the DoJ refuses to prosecute, how do they move forward? — No one really knows. There isn’t any precedent on this point. ”
Doesn’t the power to prosecute the Attorney General go the the Solicitor General?
July 27th, 2007 at 4:40 pm“If Congress pursues criminal contempt and the DoJ refuses to prosecute, how do they move forward? — No one really knows. There isn’t any precedent on this point. â€
One of the avenues being pursued by Congressional Democrats would actually be enforced by the Sergeant at Arms, the contemnors to be held on the authority of Congress.
This is much the same mechanism contemplated to force Clinton to testify in 1997.
July 27th, 2007 at 4:44 pm.
#52 - thank you for pointing out the left’s hatred for basic civil rights unless you’re a terrorist or vicious murderer.
Comment by God’s Anus — July 27, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
I can’t believe God’s Anus is talking about civil rights. She clearly missed the phone conference. God’s Anus, listen up, civil rights are the left’s strong point. Don’t bring up civil rights because everyone knows that the right is sh*tting on civil rights and it just brings up a bad subject. When cornered with civil rights, try to fall back on the official points. Like….Baby Killers, Christian Haters, Defeatocrats… please consult the memo.
For God’s sake God’s Anus, don’t bring up civil rights yourself. Sheesh, the Christians are dumb f*cks. Why did KKKarl go after the stupidest segment of society to latch on to? Just because they were the most gullible?
July 27th, 2007 at 5:05 pm[…]
to “familiarize the blogosphere with the legal and political arguments on which the administration will rely†to respond to contempt citations from Congress in the U.S. attorneys probe.
aahem…
wouldn’t that be great if TP would compile this list of arguments,
with the facts and counterpoints? … i sure think so!
please???
July 27th, 2007 at 5:07 pmIn other news, sun hot, water wet.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:15 pm-Kill Dick Cheney and Halliburton
-Kill pro-lifers
-Race baiting is fun
Comment by God Help Us
Dear me - talk like that might just earn you a visit from the Secret Service! Why would you want to kill Cheney? He seems like such a nice man.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:17 pmMore talking points….
-Kill Dick Cheney and Halliburton
-Kill pro-lifers
-Race baiting is fun
Um, last I checked pro-lifers were the ones doing the bombing, not planned parenthood. As for Race Baiting being fun, ask Trent Lott. He would know a lot better than I. Or George Allen if you can find him.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:18 pmNothing new here…the bottome feeding, knuckle dragging, 26%ers always get their talking points somewhere…they sure as hell do not use their brains or they wouldn’t be bottom dwelling, knuckle dragging morons of the 26%! They would see that they are supporting thugs in a crime family.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:19 pmTrolls need to study math…26% is not a majority and that is who they are talking to. The 74%ers already know that the administration is full of thugs and they run the government as if they were the Sopranos crime family.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:21 pmConference Call
vs.
Constitution
I prefer the side we’re on and what we have to back us up… as “quaint”, ripped and shredded up as it has become in the last 6 years.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:26 pmOkay, right wing bloggers…your mission is to explain to the American people why an administration that’s been caught lying to the the public repeatedly should be given the benefit of the doubt with respect to executive privilege.
Ready? Go!
July 27th, 2007 at 6:00 pmThis is merely a modification of what they have been doing all along only now it is to a more specific end.
July 27th, 2007 at 6:07 pmNow that the WH is in ever deepening trouble, they are rallying their sycophants from the four corners and providing specific talking points. And the good soldiers that they are will salute and type in lock-step.
As a member of the left, I will indeed support George Bush’s civil rights when he is dragged before the Hague.
Comment by Grand Moff Texan — July 27, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Yes! Every war criminal deserves his day in court, he deserves to face his accusers, he deserves the right to defend himself. He deserves to be reminded of his rights. He deserves to be represented by counsel.
July 27th, 2007 at 6:14 pmWhen he is found guilty of war crimes, his lawyers will be allowed to appeal for him while he remains in isolation, in a top secret prison. He won’t be tortured, he won’t be waterboarded, he won’t be denied basic services, but he will be denied freedom, and given time enough for his tiny mind to ponder what he has wrought for himself and others.
Pathetic.
Clearly, the Bushies are on the run.
July 27th, 2007 at 6:19 pm“figures - people incapable of thinking for themselves always need to be fed their lines so they know what to say and think - kind of like Pavlov’s dog
Comment by muzz “
If you really want to understand this mindset, read John Dean’s Conservatives Without Conscience. His premise is that the “serf” portion of the Republican party (as opposed to the Royalty) are people who need a strong authority figure in their life to tell them how to think and how to live their lives. These people are typically uber religious (God being the authority figure here) and are more likely than others to be part of a cult. In a way they are part of a cult because the Republican party today acts more like a cult than a political party.
July 27th, 2007 at 6:37 pmComment by God Help Us #69
…no more tossing pearls before you inbred swine…
-God-
July 27th, 2007 at 6:40 pm“If Congress pursues criminal contempt and the DoJ refuses to prosecute, how do they move forward? — No one really knows. There isn’t any precedent on this point. â€
It’s really very simple. Impeach him. It will be a slam dunk. Gonzo has no support from anyone other than Bush. And I think that committing perjury is definitely an Impeachable offense. Personally I hope they do it. They can practice on Gonzo and then move on to Chaney and then to Bush.
July 27th, 2007 at 6:43 pm“The spinmeister in chief can hold all the conferences he wants but his claims for “executive privilege†will no longer hold water. It is definitely not mentioned in the Constitution of this country so it has no basis in the law of this land.”
What happenned to the “strict-construction” neo-con “talking point”?
July 27th, 2007 at 7:33 pm# 49 Ooopps. God Help Us must be a Bill Orally staffer trying to stuff the liberal blogs with hate. Tsk Tsk. What will your master say??? What will the secret service say?
July 27th, 2007 at 7:34 pmThe conservative bloggers subserviently listened to their masters in the White House, promised to pass their opinions as facts, and at the end of the call proceeded to chant: “All hail the Leader! Long live our Leader! Our Leader can do no wrong!”
July 27th, 2007 at 8:42 pmGee, does this mean you and I have them on the run?
They’ve got to get a temp-hire from the think tanks to look at the stuff I come off the top of my head with so the minions have some ammo to shoot at it with?
Feels pretty good, doesn’t it?
July 27th, 2007 at 8:44 pmYeah. The WH showed everyone…those strict constructionalists…where the words “executive privilege” appear in the Constitution. [ Nowhere.]
July 28th, 2007 at 9:14 amLooks like the WH is getting desperate to get its lies and cover-ups across… Ha! Ha!
July 28th, 2007 at 11:41 amThe White House is finally “getting” this blogosphere thing, and applying their spin talents to the digital arena.
The one thing they’re not getting, however, is that their message will be universally urinated upon in a medium they do not (yet) control.
July 30th, 2007 at 8:41 am