White House Misses Noon Deadline For Gonzales Testimony
White House Misses Noon Deadline For Gonzales Testimony
Yesterday, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) gave the “Bush administration 18 hours to resolve the controversy over apparent contradictions in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’s congressional testimony” about domestic spying programs. Specter stated:
Given the difficulty of discussing classified matters in public, I think it is preferable to have a letter addressing that question [of Gonzales' veracity] from the administration…by noon tomorrow, which will be made available to the news media. The administration has committed to producing such a letter.
But in today’s White House press briefing, spokesman Tony Snow said that while the administration plans to submit a letter, it “will be a little bit later. It’s not quite meeting the noon deadline. But he will in fact get a response today.” Watch it:
Later in the briefing, Snow hinted that the response may not be coming from the White House, but instead from the Justice Department.
Transcript:
QUESTION: Tony, has a letter gone to the Hill, specifically to Senator Specter, concerning Alberto Gonzales?
SNOW: No. There will be something going up to the Hill. It will be a little bit later. It’s not quite meeting the noon deadline. But he in fact will get a response today.
First, we thank Senator Specter. He agreed to get himself read into the program yesterday. He received a briefing and he had some questions. And those questions are going to be answered. They’ll be answered in the course of the day. But they have not yet been provided. We expect within the next few hours that he’ll have a full response.
QUESTION: Tony, following on that, Senator Specter put out this statement saying that the letter would be available to the news media, it would address the questions about the attorney general testifying accurately.
You had an interesting time trying to parse the different language the other day when we pressed about it. How will this letter…
SNOW: I will let the documents speak for themselves and he’ll have an opportunity.
QUESTION: Who put it together?
SNOW: Again, at this point — it’s not coming out of the White House.
*****
QUESTION: To clarify this letter, you say it’s not coming from White House. It’s coming from the Justice Department?
SNOW: They will hear — he will hear from the Justice Department.
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July 31st, 2007 at 2:18 pmLet’s all support Congressman Jay Inlsee’s impeachment movement.
It’s time to get Fredo away from our DOJ!!
July 31st, 2007 at 2:18 pmBush’s dog threw up on it.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:20 pmIf the WH writes a letter, then they could possibly be “on the hook” for any distortions of the truth. If the WH were to write a letter, I’d bet that it would be a very vague and very general letter not really addressing anything.
Likewise, if the DOJ writes a letter (and Gonzo is the titular head of the DOJ), they are on a very dangerous ground.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:21 pmThis is the White House!! We will not be dictated to by puny Congress members. Who do you think you are? We do what we want!!
Love,
July 31st, 2007 at 2:21 pmThe King
And the point is? As long as the letter arrives today, so what?
July 31st, 2007 at 2:22 pmTell Congress to impeach Gonzales here:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/94
July 31st, 2007 at 2:22 pmThe paperwork will be forthcoming in a Friedman or two…
July 31st, 2007 at 2:23 pmSomething tells me that they delayed release of the letter to this afternoon so that they wouldn’t be eclipsed by the Murdoch-WSJ announcement. If anything, they probably wanted to have their big moment when Gonzo is “exonerated” dominate the evening news.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:25 pmLove,
The King
Comment by Zooey — July 31, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
Hey, good golly Miss Zooey, cut that out!
A-thank-you, thank-you-very-much.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:26 pmThe paperwork will be filed as soon as the redacting of certain portions of classified material is completed. That should only take about ◙ years. Of course, we’d ◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ to have it done ◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ but the classified portion is ◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ and it wouldn’t do ◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ any of it ever to be ◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ to the ◙◙◙◙◙◙◙ of day ◙
July 31st, 2007 at 2:28 pmSnow: Rove is working on the letter. When that will be ready, that I can’t answer. !
July 31st, 2007 at 2:29 pmSomeone cuff these asshats for contempt.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:29 pmDo you suppose they even fill Tony in on anything? Maybe they let him just go out there and wing it (make it up as he goes).
July 31st, 2007 at 2:29 pmRUCerious, clever! How did you do that..?
July 31st, 2007 at 2:30 pmHi all.
It looks like TP is having some success at excluding the vile children who took over so many threads. Waaay cool. None of us deserve to be subjected to such abuse.
If only we could affect the WH as easily, George.Dick and co would be gone in a month. But, I fear we have to do it the slow way.
Actually, the apparent drive to new lows in governance gives me some hope. They seem to be getting desperate and desperate people make mistakes. Hopefully the kind of mistakes that result in long prison terms. We can hope can’t we?
July 31st, 2007 at 2:32 pmAnd the point is? As long as the letter arrives today, so what?
Comment by OreoDude — July 31, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Most people who consistently miss job related deadlines get fired.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:32 pmF*ck you, Snow. Deadline MISSED. Fire up the impeachment investigation!
July 31st, 2007 at 2:32 pmComment by JG — July 31, 2007
A little trick with MS Word, insert symbol, then paste like hell!
July 31st, 2007 at 2:34 pmIs it my imagination or is SnowJob looking more and more like Homer Simpson every day.
Do you think that maybe the Witless House is working on a tie-in with the new Simpsons movie? How appropriate that would be . . . at least, since there won’t be a Three Stooges flick coming out this year.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:35 pmBarney–Proudly eating the President’s homework since 2000.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:35 pmComment by RUCerious — July 31, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
How’d you do that? :)
July 31st, 2007 at 2:35 pmArlen: “Did I say 18 hours? Silly me. I meant 18 months.”
July 31st, 2007 at 2:36 pmHow’d you do that? :)
Comment by Egreggious, Esq. — July 31, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
See #19!
July 31st, 2007 at 2:38 pmThe WH and DOJ are simply playing mind games.
It focuses on control. “Yeh, you’ll get you’re letter, when we feel like it.”
Utter contempt for accountability is what it amounts too.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:38 pmD*cks.
All right, then. I’m going back to bed. Wake me in 18 months.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:39 pmtru ~ The only word that seems to penetrate their blurry existence is
July 31st, 2007 at 2:40 pmIMPEACH!
Eh — the WH will do what it wants when it wants. They may not submit a letter at all, since they will probably “stand by” Gonzo’s testimony as it is, and then pardon him if he gets into trouble.
The Senate needs to proceed as if the ball is in their court. If they sit and wait for the WH after the deadline is passed, it just confirms they will capitulate to the BA no matter what.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:41 pmWhat’s it gonna take?
Is Dubya gonna have to decapitate a kitten on the White House lawn to get this congress to nut it up and DO SOMETHING to reign them in?!?!?!
July 31st, 2007 at 2:42 pmThom Hartmann interviewed Rep. Inslee this morning on his show on this bill he is introducing to start the impeachment bill on Gonzales rolling later today. It was a good interview. Helped me to understand better the logic. I really think this is the way to go, and I think there will be support. I also want impeachment to work so that he can’t be pardoned.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:43 pmRUC,
I’m not sure that even that word would do it.
They really feel above the law, which is a little strange since the oath of office states his #1 priority is to uphold the laws of this country.
Dude needs a reading comprehension class.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:47 pmMore good news
July 31st, 2007 at 2:48 pmhttp://www.rawstory.com/comments/35351.html
More good news
http://www.rawstory.com/comments/35351.html
The longer this Congress takes to act, the more evidence will be destroyed so that their cover will be more cemented. I have felt for a while now that ALL of what is happening with attorney firings is coming down to rigged, stolen elections in 2000 and 2004.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:51 pmI could write the letter in 5 minutes.
Dear Sirs,
I am please to convey the following statement on behalf of the White House:
The Attorney General is responsible for his own testimony. The White House will not take responsibility for any misstatements or deviations from the truth where he has provided testimony on which he is the authority, and we assume that his statements are truthful.
Please notify us if the candidate is no longer eligible to serve in that capacity based on constitutionally valid action taken by Congress so that we may prepare a new candidate for that position.
Sincerely,
Tony Snow
Press Secretary
PS: We don’t like you.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:54 pmYou can’t support America and the US Consitution AND support George W. Bush and his criminal lackeys.
Pick a side.
-GSD
July 31st, 2007 at 2:55 pmComment by JG — July 31, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
thanks for the headsup! hartman is rebroadcast in the evening on XM…
have been working outside today… time to fire up the portable, i see…
gotta get back to it!…
oh, btw… good comments! :-)
July 31st, 2007 at 2:56 pmfun new trick, RU…
see yas…
More good news
Comment by divine
If they asked me on my tax returns if I wanted to donate $1.00 to recount ballots in close states then I would check yes since you always hear the excuse…..”But recounting them would cost so much”.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:00 pmThe army just announced, no cover up in the Tillman case. Some will be disciplined, but no wrong doing, just poor leadership!!
July 31st, 2007 at 3:03 pmWTF!!
Comment by Zooey — July 31, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
Reported.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:08 pmThe army just announced, no cover up in the Tillman case. Some will be disciplined, but no wrong doing, just poor leadership!!
WTF!!
Comment by Marie — July 31, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Did they explain away the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death?
July 31st, 2007 at 3:08 pmReported.
Comment by Zooey — July 31, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
You go, girl!
July 31st, 2007 at 3:09 pmHmmmm,
Any bets that when they open that letter they’ll find Bush’s polyps?
Autographed?
July 31st, 2007 at 3:11 pmYou Dems are all talk and no action, Gonzales is going nowhere, get used to it. I mean, in theory you guys were better off with a Republican-controlled Congress even though you can’t see it that way. Since you guys took over, the war in Iraq has only escalated! We have more troops in Iraq with Dear Nancy in power than we did with Hastert.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:11 pmbattered COUNTRY syndrome…
July 31st, 2007 at 3:12 pm…
Is tony losing his hair?
I mean, it was white already–but it’s starting to look thinner by the week.
Or is that the chemo?
July 31st, 2007 at 3:12 pmPick a side.
I pick whichever side you dont claim for yourself, I dont think I could stand the constant moonbattery.
I think we should have a march to celebrate picking: sides, noses, undies, whatever. LETS MARCH!
July 31st, 2007 at 3:13 pmWe have more troops in Iraq with Dear Nancy in power than we did with Hasturd. – Andrew
Ummm, fact check. BubbleBush announced the surge in early Jan. ‘07.
Nancy didn’t take office until the 3rd week of Jan. ‘07.
I hate to let facts screw up a good theory, but it is what it is.
Maybe BubbleBush was guilty of PreIraqulation????
July 31st, 2007 at 3:14 pmNow if only Bush could have the democratic polyps removed from the senate and congress as easily as from his innards.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:15 pmActually, Nancy took power on January 3rd, before Bush announced his surge
July 31st, 2007 at 3:15 pmso what’s little arlen going to do now? Get super duper extra special captain puff-n-stuff mad at bush: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
July 31st, 2007 at 3:16 pmI know facts dont matter to you Dems, and I know it’s hard to comprehend that your Dems you elected to change course in Iraq have only sat by as we’ve escalated it, but Nancy took power before Bush announced his surge
July 31st, 2007 at 3:17 pmZooey sez:
And (unfortunately) disregarded.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pmActually, Nancy took power on January 3rd, before Bush announced his surge -Comment by Andrew
OK. Still guilty of PreIraqulation. This gave AQ 6 months to bring in troops.
Ahhh, the military mind of a mental midget masturbating.
Heckuva job, BubbleBush
July 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pmJeez… Who made Specter the boss?
He will get the letter when the White House makes it available!
July 31st, 2007 at 3:20 pmI mean really, are you guys excited for 8 more years of a Republican president because you know it’s going to happen. Neither one of your frontrunners standa chance nationally. You guys are really bad at winning elections. What you’ve won 3 in the last 33 years?
July 31st, 2007 at 3:20 pmAndrew, calm down. Your meds will be here as fast as Cheney’s batteries allow him to run.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:21 pmReally? Missing the noon deadline? SCHOCKER! Who would have thought the Bush admin would have the audacity to not only disobey a request from a lower branch, but hold their own comment until the end of the news day when nobody is likely to pay much attention?
That’s just unpossible!
July 31st, 2007 at 3:22 pm“I mean really, are you guys excited for 8 more years of a Republican president because you know it’s going to happen. Neither one of your frontrunners standa chance nationally. You guys are really bad at winning elections. What you’ve won 3 in the last 33 years?
Comment by GOP”
What’s that I hear? Sounds like…whistling.
Whistling past the graveyard.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:22 pmTrublue and Zooey,
Good to see you both up and about together and a very good day to you both.
Status: 50 lbs lighter, ten years younger and getting closer to catching Granny everyday.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:24 pmIsn’t “the MBA President” supposed to run the country like a business? “Late again, Mr. Bush? Pack your desk.”
July 31st, 2007 at 3:26 pmAnd (unfortunately) disregarded.
Comment by TripMaster Monkey — July 31, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
I told them I would send it to Faiz if they ignored me. So now Faiz can deal with it.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:28 pmStatus: 50 lbs lighter, ten years younger and getting closer to catching Granny everyday.
Comment by Clyde the Ripper — July 31, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
Clyde, thats fantastic! I’m so glad you’re doing well. Are you going to patent the “ten years younger” secret? I want to pre-order….
Tell Granny to slow down, you must be looking hot!! :)
July 31st, 2007 at 3:30 pmAnd the letter the white house submitted was the letter “I” for Ignorant and “I can’t recall”. It’s also for “Impeachment”
July 31st, 2007 at 3:31 pmRove to Specter: ““You’re entitled to your clock, I have THE clock.”
July 31st, 2007 at 3:31 pmI had a post deleted, and I even used friendly, normal words. I think this site needs work.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:32 pmBush would’ve sent the response letter earlier, but he’s been trying to figure out how to turn on his computer for the past six years. “Heh heh.”
July 31st, 2007 at 3:32 pmHello, TP users
July 31st, 2007 at 3:35 pm#60–He does run it like a business. Didn’t you see yesterday where they had to restate their GDP numbers? Sounds like alot of CEOs to me.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:37 pmBush would’ve sent the response letter earlier, but he’s been trying to figure out how to turn on his computer for the past six years. “Heh heh.â€
Comment by Republicans Can’t Govern.
Yea, he is running it just like he ran his “awl” companies into the ground… and almost the Texas Ranger baseball team, and the state of Texas when he was taking a 4 year siesta on the state clock.
As they say in Texas “How do you make a Texas millionaire? Ya start with Daddy’s billion.”
July 31st, 2007 at 3:42 pmHow long does it take to get their stories straight? They really need to get some better storytellers working in the WH.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:44 pmWhat’s that I hear? Sounds like…whistling.
Whistling past the graveyard.
Comment by mongo
Yea Trollies, if all I had were the sorry excuses for middle aged white guys plus (at least) one crossdresser you Repugs have, I would be here on the Progressive blogs too. Would be too embarrassed to be seen on the Dredge or Redstate.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:46 pmThere are going to be some completely astounded Republicans next year when the Democrats take over the White House and add seats to the Congress. When you get your information from fake news organizations you shouldn’t be surprised when the opposite of what they say will happen actually happens.
70% of the American people, including 49% of Republicans think that Congress should be investigating Alberto Gonzalez.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:49 pm“I mean really, are you guys excited for 8 more years of a Republican president because you know it’s going to happen. Neither one of your frontrunners standa chance nationally. You guys are really bad at winning elections. What you’ve won 3 in the last 33 years?”
I agree with GOP… there’s absolutely no chance of the Dems winning anything in 08, because the Dems are guaranteed to screw it up. In fact, there’s really no point in Republicans going to the polls at all. It’s just a waste of their time, to be honest, because nobody’s going to vote for the Democrat, regardless of who’s the nominee. Forget all those polls showing Democrat advantages in fundraising and approval ratings; I know if I were a Republican, I’d go fishing or yachting on election day because it will be no contest.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:52 pmOK, now it’s 4:00PM. Is the copier down again or are you stalling till after the last flight out of Regan National Airport leaves before the the August recess?
July 31st, 2007 at 4:05 pmBwaaaahaaaaahhaaaa!
July 31st, 2007 at 4:14 pmThere’s NO way in Hades that the Neo-con, fascist Republicans will stay in the white house…if you’d turn off O’ Reilly’s impotent blathering,
you might actually realize that your republican hopefuls are all laughing stocks! If Romney’s your golden child….LMMFAO!!!! Good luck with aaaalllll that. That guy’s a total choad…smarter than Georgie-boy, sure, why not…but that don’t take much.
#63 Zooey
I am not sure you would want to go through with the process.
I had a follow-up visit with the heart surgeon yesterday and he claimed that if he had not read the chart before he came into the room he would not have recognized me as I looked twenty years younger.
Thanksfor caring.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:15 pmIs there any chance that this letter will be a resignation letter? I could understand that taking a little longer, as I’m sure there would have to be a lot of negotiating behind the scenes about whether or not they were going to cave on this…
Obviously, it’s doubtful, but it’s still sooo the right think to happen…
July 31st, 2007 at 4:19 pmI had a follow-up visit with the heart surgeon yesterday and he claimed that if he had not read the chart before he came into the room he would not have recognized me as I looked twenty years younger.
Thanksfor caring.
Comment by Clyde the Ripper — July 31, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
I know I wouldn’t!! I was hoping you’d found an easier way. :)
Keep up the good work, Clyde. Love to you and Granny!
July 31st, 2007 at 4:25 pm