Perino Falsely Claims Congress Has ‘Not Moved Forward’ On Bush’s ‘Good’ Judicial Nominees
Perino Falsely Claims Congress Has ‘Not Moved Forward’ On Bush’s ‘Good’ Judicial Nominees
The LA Times reports today that the current 110th Congress has approved more of Bush’s nominees than did the previous GOP-led Congress:
Despite the Republicans’ loss of control of the Senate, 40 of Bush’s judges won confirmation this year, more than in the previous three years when Republicans held the majority.
By contrast, the Republican-controlled Senate in 1996 confirmed only 17 of President Clinton’s judicial nominations.
Despite this record, when asked about President Bush’s “most important priorities” for 2008, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino took the opportunity to bash Congress on its failure to “move forward” on more of the President’s nominees:
And in addition to that, we have many outstanding nominations that need to be confirmed, both judicial and also throughout the government. And it really is unfortunate that Congress has not moved forward on its obligation to have hearings and to hold votes, because the president has nominated very good people.
Watch it:
Bush’s nominees currently being blocked by the Senate are some of the most controversial, despite Perino’s assertion that they are all “very good people.” Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) kept the Senate in a pro forma session over recess to prevent Bush from granting them recess appointments.
For example, senators have objected to Steven Bradbury, acting chief of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, who “signed two secret memos in 2005 saying it was OK for the CIA use harsh interrogation techniques” on detainees. Another, James Holsinger, is currently being held up as Surgeon General over his statements that gay sex is “intuitively” unnatural and can lead to “lacerations, perforations and deaths.”
Transcript:
QUESTION: This begins President Bush’s final year in the White House. What would you say are his most important goals, his priorities, the things on his must-do list before he leaves the White House?
PERINO: Well, there’s a few things that we need to do with Congress on. There’s — while we were able to achieve some things last year, there’s a lot of unfinished business.
So in regards to working with Congress, one of the first things that they need to do when they return is to pass and permanently establish the intelligence community reforms for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the FISA bill, that will make sure that we keep that intelligence gap closed, that we can surveil as appropriate.
We’ll also need to move forward on, hopefully, the No Child Left Behind reauthorization. It does not have to be reauthorized. It remains the law of the land through 2012. But we have this opportunity to strengthen the law now, and we’d like to work with Congress to get that done.
In the last four months, when the president has asked Congress to move forward on housing legislation in order to help stabilize that market and to help homeowners who are having some difficulty, we’ve only passed one of the pieces of legislation the president asked for. There are about four additional pieces of legislation they could move forward on, including modernizing the Federal Housing Administration.
In addition to that, we have free trade agreements that are on the table, including South Korea, Colombia and Peru. I’m getting that one right? I think I might be missing one.
And in addition to that, we have many outstanding nominations that need to be confirmed, both judicial and also throughout the government. And it really is unfortunate that Congress has not moved forward on its obligation to have hearings and to hold votes, because the president has nominated very good people.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
80 Responses to “Perino Falsely Claims Congress Has ‘Not Moved Forward’ On Bush’s ‘Good’ Judicial Nominees”
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
when perino says good morning, you can bet your ass there is some lies within that little statement.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pmJust once, I wish the DC press corps would just not show up to these ‘briefings’, or any other Bu$h press conference. That would be the ultimate insult to this gang; a collective ‘you are no longer relevant’.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:48 pmPerhaps of Bush put forth some good judicial nominees, then it wouldn’t be an issue.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 pmThere is no good judicial Bush nominee. Bush is way below average in intelligence and he would never nominate anyone whose intelligence is equal to or greater than his. So Perino doesn’t know what’s she talking about, again.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:50 pmAnd it really is unfortunate that his president vetoed the expansion of SCHIP and that this president has vetoed any bill that calls for redeployment of our troops from Iraq and it really is unfortunate that this president is illegally spying on Americans and so on and so forth… Yes, Mrs. Perino. This is a very unfortunate president.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:53 pmElsa, the Nazi she-wolf, speaks again.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:53 pmlie… repeat…
did you get that?
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 pmthe facts can be made to conform to any agenda. Most people will buy into this.
Comment by Frank M — January 2, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Once again, Frank M does an admirable job of framing the right-wing’s relationship to the Truth.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 pmOne more thing, Mrs. Perino. We Americans and the rest of the world are also unfortunate to have an idiot in the White House. That is the greatest misfortune.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:55 pmNo one cares what the White House thinks.
We fear what they will do, but we learned long ago that the thinking is an entirely unrelated process.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm“And in addition to that, we have many outstanding” acts of high crimes and misdemeanors and treason by both George W Bush and Dick Cheney and the rest of their cartel that is not be addressed by this Congress. IMPEACH Dick then George then send them off to the Hague.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pmAnyone else notice that the Chimperor’s “Must-Do” list consists of things he wishes he could get from Congress?
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:01 pmSo just because Perino and the monkey think the nominations are “good”, it is to be taken for granted that they are indeed, “good.” Pretty subjective, if you ask me.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:01 pmI have already read today that the Bush appointments have virtually guaranteed that any legal charges filed against Bush&Co will be denied by his “friendly” judicial appointees.
Thanks for the update, Benedict.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 pmI repeat:
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 pmFMT III,
-Frank ‘M Troll the Turd.
Marie - Bush&Co better stay away from the Hague. No appointees there :)
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:05 pmMost people will buy into this.
Comment by Frank M — January 2, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
No American is interested in your treason, frank. Only a traitor would adopt your sick, twisted positions. You haven’t “won” anything, except the opprobrium of 70% of the populace, who are prepared to strip you of your power for the next several decades, and give us back our country.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 pmPRESS SECRETARY, n. A White House official who lies when the president is unable to do it for himself. (Source: The Devil’s Dictionaries: Bierce & Bufe)
Influence of Religious Right on Bush Administration Appointments
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 pmDid you have to mention Holsinger???
Now we’re gonna have another Dayrll-infested thread. One a day is enough!
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pmPerfectly calm, Ben - just biding my time, and waiting for the purge. How you doin’?
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:14 pmIn the last four months, when the president has asked Congress to move forward on housing legislation in order to help stabilize that market and to help homeowners who are having some difficulty, we’ve only passed one of the pieces of legislation the president asked for.
The very definition of audacity. It’s breathtaking for the Bush Administration to criticize Congress for moving too slowly to fix one of the Bush Administration’s many huge messes.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:14 pmYour side is perfectly free to play the same game. Still you refuse to do it and then wonder why your side of the story is never played in the media. No-one’s interested in a calm and reasonable discussion and compromise when you can actually win.
Comment by Frank M — January 2, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
If GWB’s actions are an illustration of “playing the game” then be prepared for a change in rules. The world is tired of this game & Americans are cluing in. The game is supposed to be to serve the people, not to serve the wealthy & corporate backers. What’s really funny is you’re too stupid to realize that you aren’t being served at all by the Reps. You’re just collateral damage, though you don’t see it yet. But you will when all of these bills come due & you have to pay them with dollars that are worth 1/2 of what they were 7 years ago. Of course you’ll blame the Dems for insisting that a country can’t continue by spending trillions while reducing the revenue stream so you’ll still sleep well… albeit on a park bench.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:15 pmThere MUST be at least ONE good appointee? Right? ….crickets chirping….
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pmAnd if you ask Perino why oil reached $100.00 a barrel today, Perino will try to convince you that’s because of Saddam’s ill intent in his 6 ft. grave under ground…
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pmBush’s game rules.
He makes them all, changes them whenever he feels like it.
The other side must negotiate everything, but he won’t change anything.
Before negotiations, give up all your negotiating points.
My way or no way at all..
What a legacy.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pmOil reaching $100 is a good thing for America. Don’t forget, Iraq will be paying for this war & the resulting damage from oil revenues. It won’t cost the American taxpayer a cent. So this is a good thing. Trust GWB.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pmYours is the “revolution”, and it has failed, Il Duce. Now, where did I put that piano wire?
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:19 pmCongress should refuse to appoint another single judge until after 1/20/09.
Period.
Bush doesn’t deserve to ,eave his cancerous imprint on any more America’s institutions.
-GSD
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 pmFrank M - the biggest Fascist loser since Mussolini, and headed for a lamp post near you.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 pmHow about a beating heart and a body warmer than room temperature?
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pmWe ought to put Frank M. And Daryll together, Daryll would hang or behead Frank while Frank would insult and demean Daryll…
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pmNo further Bush nominees should be approved. period. What does a President have to do to earn the disdain from Congress? Seriously.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pmFrank M: Republican, Fascist, Necrophilliac.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm#27: I hear you. She’s hot and smart. What else could you want?
Comment by Frank M — January 2, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
She has yet to demonstrate “smart”, unless you’re impressed by an ability to lie. This is the “smart” woman who didn’t know what the Cuban missile crisis was.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pmOT…
listening to Ray Taliaferro last night … One caller suggested we also build a truth telling library across from the future Bush library, gather contributions to do this and what would the name of this library be….
Suggestions so far are:
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 pmThere will be no Bush library.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:33 pmCome on, TP. Dana Peroxide lying or saying something ridiculous is not news. Wake me up when she speaks the truth, if ever.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pmGood gawd! Perino looks like she’s got quite a hangover! Or is that the necrosis from within from knowing that your life is one HUGE lie??
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:37 pmThis is the “smart†woman who didn’t know what the Cuban missile crisis was.
Comment by gummitch
Furthermore, gum, hot? How is she hot?
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pmPerino epitomizes the round heeled types of gofers of the 50’s and 60’s where they got to the top by humping their boss.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm43. The Bush library will consist of 3 Shakespeares, a couple of Richie Rich comics and a well thumbed copy of Hustler stacked next to the bowl in GWB’s bathroom in Paraguay.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pmShe didn’t know squat about the Bay of Pigs because she’s sitting smack dab in the middle of it: Bush’s Bay of Pigs.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pmMene: You forgot to add one gross of “My Pet Goat” and “My Friend Scooter….er….Flicka”
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:40 pmIs anyone else getting pretty bored and tired of this peroxide airhead coming on as though she’s a respectable member of society?? I am.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:40 pmFurthermore, gum, hot? How is she hot?
Comment by Juan C. — January 2, 2008 @ 4:38 pm
She’s breathing. When you get to be my age, that’s about all it takes, Juan.
:-)
I wouldn’t have described her as “hot”, but she is pretty. What can I say? I’m shallow.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:41 pmShe’s “hot” in the same sense as any evil, female, Disney character.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 pmIt’s the Daily Show with Dana Purina. What does our favorite bubblehead Barbie has to say for Wednesday?: “And it really is unfortunate that Congress has not moved forward on its obligation to have hearings and to hold votes, because the president has nominated very good people.” Same crapola from Purina but different day. Purina’s chip in her head is malfunctioned.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:44 pmIs there a Hitler library in Germany?
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:44 pmSame Press Conference:
Perino:In the last four months, when the president has asked Congress to move forward on housing legislation in order to help stabilize that market and to help homeowners who are having some difficulty, we’ve only passed one of the pieces of legislation the president asked for.
Bush, the two-faced:
During the housing boom, the subprime industry succeeded at more than just writing mortgages. It also shot down efforts by some states to curtail risky lending to borrowers with spotty credit.
Ameriquest Mortgage Co., until recently one of the nation’s largest subprime lenders, was at the center of those battles. Working with a husband-and-wife team of Washington lobbyists, it handed out more than $20 million in political donations …Bush received more than $200,000 for his 2004 re-election campaign, and Ameriquest founder Roland Arnall and his wife, Dawn, contributed more than $5 million to political organizations that backed the president. Last year, President Bush appointed Mr. Arnall ambassador to the Netherlands, and his wife took over as chairman of Ameriquest’s parent company.
http://online.wsj.com/ article/ SB119906606162358773.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:45 pmShe’s breathing.
Comment by gummitch
Best post.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pmHow could Bush push legislation to fix a financial mess? He created the mess. He couldn’t turn a profit at a popcorn stand if his daddy gave him the popcorn.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:47 pmShe’s not breathing. She’s a corpse.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm51. No matter how beautiful a woman is, there’s always a country somewhere that’s sick of listening to her.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:49 pmI gotta be honest: I find intelligence and integrity extremely hot, so I can rule this woman out of my favs…
…unless she has a spectacular ass, she is out.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:53 pmShe’s not breathing. She’s a corpse.
Comment by Marcus Aurelius — January 2, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
Coulter’s a corpse, Perino seems more a Stepford wife.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:55 pmShe does have a spectacular ass - his name is George W. Bush.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:55 pmHow’s the housing situation in New Orleans? I do think Congress appropriated money to help there - wha’ happened?
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:57 pmIs anyone else getting pretty bored and tired of this peroxide airhead coming on as though she’s a respectable member of society?? I am.
Comment by Veritas
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:03 pmAgree.
did the WH put her out there to exploit her looks and youth to once again help divert from the real issues? And how many are going to give this young girl a hard time as they did with Ari and Scottie?
re 64:
Haven’t you seen the bumper sticker that says: If you’re not mad you’re not paying attention.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:06 pmThe only logical rebuttal I can think of for Ms Perino in response to the Democratic Congress not moving forward on Bush’s nominees is what my Granddaddy use to say; “no shit Sherlock!”.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:09 pmscheherazade
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:12 pmAnd you are a freekin’ fascist dickhead, you know?
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pmThe NCLB act?
What a joke.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 pmLOL! Marcus, you’re such a good sport, but you’ve got some serious anger management problems, you know?
Comment by Frank M
Marcus is a very enlightened and insightful blogger. If we weren’t angry, he wouldn’t be paying attention - and he does pay careful attention.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pmThanks, StratRat.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pmThanks, StratRat.
Comment by Marcus Aurelius
I only say it ’cause it is true.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:20 pmWell, too bad, Perino. Honestly, we on this side of the divide think that Bush has given you too much. If we had our way, you’d get less.
And I see none of the Trolls made a new years resolution not to stink up our threads. Oh well…
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:21 pmI like the way she says ‘we’ were able to achieve somethings with congress. Thats funny coming from someone whose job it is to repeat talking points.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 pmShe blows more sunshine out her ass than Acapulco.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 pmWhat should scare all of us is the ability of the Republicans to merely lie about every conceivable topic. The press has failed to uphold its part of the bargain in a democratic society. We see the media co-opted by corporate ownership. The Republican party elites desire to turn the United States into a corpocracy. It has succeded in large part.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:44 pmThe trolls stop by TP because this is the only place that they can read intelligent comments, not that they would understand an intelligent comment. One needs reading comprehension to understand an intelligent comment. There’s no intelligent conversation going on over at Red State. The trolls are try to learn how to think. We need to use single syllable words like “see Spot run”. This way the trolls will begin their learnin’.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 pmAw, crap. There are some people who still think Dick Cheney is “good people.”
Obviously, they are either retarded or brain-damaged.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pmLOL! Marcus, you’re such a good sport, but you’ve got some serious anger management problems, you know?
Comment by Frank M — January 2, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
Coming from you any compliment is meaningless. We don’t care what fascists think. We’re just data mining when we let you stay here. Got that bunker ready?
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 pmTrue, but politics is perception and the facts can be made to conform to any agenda. Most people will buy into this.
Comment by Frank M — January 2, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Heh.
“Iraq War.”
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pmHas she ever found out about the Cuban Missile Crisis or is she still researching it. This woman is an embarrassment to professional woman. No wonder she was hired by the White House just another idiot drawing a pay check.
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 pmJust once, I wish the DC press corps would just not show up to these ‘briefings’, or any other Bu$h press conference. That would be the ultimate insult to this gang; a collective ‘you are no longer relevant’.
Comment by citizen_pain
A bigger insult would be for each and every one of them to come in, set up a tape recorder in their chair, hit “record” and then leave.
I had a college professor the second time I went to college who was a colossal bore. We all tried to tell him that he was putting us all to sleep but he didn’t want to hear what we had to say. So the entire class got together and decided to do what I suggested above. We had one person stay in the class just to see what the professor’s reaction was. And you know what he did. He acted like every seat had a student in it and he proceeded to bore the poor tape recorders.
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:38 pmTrue, but politics is perception and the facts can be made to conform to any agenda. Most people will buy into this.
Comment by Frank M
No, Francine, a fact is a fact. Any anyone who buys into this would be a Republiscum. And since the Republiscums make up about 36% of the public, “most people” would not buy into this.
I pity you.
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 pmJust another example of MURDERER Bush the COXUCKER punk TRAITOR to the USA and another one of his USEFUL IDIOTS, Dana “BayPig” Perino.
Sincerely,
NRA Gun Nutes
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pmNo objective media, no repercussions .
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pmNo, Francine, a fact is a fact. Any anyone who buys into this would be a Republiscum. And since the Republiscums make up about 36% of the public, “most people†would not buy into this.
I pity you.
Comment by bilbobaggins — January 2, 2008 @ 7:41 pm
bilbobaggins,
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 amI am generally in agreement with you. But could you please stop calling Frank “Francine?” It is really very insulting to my gender.