White House Finally Asked About DOJ Report, Says It’s Not ‘Disappointed’ In Gonzales
White House Finally Asked About DOJ Report, Says It’s Not ‘Disappointed’ In Gonzales
Today, the Department of Justice Inspector General testified on his recent report documenting the rampant and unlawful politicization of the Justice Department. He told the Senate Judiciary Committee that former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales “said he was unaware of what was going on” at his own department, and that he “basically said he didn’t have knowledge of the role the office of the Attorney General played in identifying candidates” for career positions.
After two days of silence from the White House press corps on the subject, a reporter finally asked White House press secretary Dana Perino about the report today. She refused to say that President Bush was “disappointed” in Gonzales, admitting only “overall disappointment in the situation”:
QUESTION: Does this mean — can I infer from that that President Bush is disappointed in Alberto Gonzales?
PERINO: I think that, if you look at the report, and it is in line with what the attorney general said at the time, which was that he was not aware of that — of that going on. And so I don’t think there’s anything – the disappointment doesn’t necessarily go to the attorney general. [...]
QUESTION: But you won’t go so far as to say that, looking at Alberto Gonzales’ Justice Department, President Bush is disappointed this was going on?
PERINO: Well, I think that we are — overall disappointment in the situation, sure.
Watch it:
The President refuses to punish his most loyal Bushie because he carried out his orders. Even after stalwart conservative Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) acknowledged Gonzales’ “incompetence” today, Bush continues to “stand by Al Gonzales.”
Transcript:
QUESTION: Dana, what’s your reaction to the Justice Department report where they — the report essentially says, yes, that there was inappropriate influence of politics and ideology that was part of our hiring and firing practices?
PERINO: Well, as I’ve read the coverage of it — I haven’t read the report, but as I’ve read the coverage of it, there was obviously information in there that would cause concern to anybody. And we agree with Michael Mukasey, the attorney general, that there was concern — there should be concern any time anyone is improperly using politics to influence career decisions.
It is — we believe that is improper. We could absolutely not defend that. And we are pleased that the attorney general has taken steps to change it there at the Justice Department.
QUESTION: Does this mean — can I infer from that that President Bush is disappointed in Alberto Gonzales?
PERINO: I think that, if you look at the report, and it is in line with what the attorney general said at the time, which was that he was not aware of that — of that going on. And so I don’t think there’s anything — the disappointment doesn’t necessarily go to the attorney general.
QUESTION: Does that change…
PERINO: No, I don’t think that…
QUESTION: It doesn’t change the president’s look back…
PERINO: The whole situation was — the whole situation, in terms of the politicization or accusations of politicization, then if you look at career hires that should not have any sort of questions put towards them as to what sort of party they represent, or what affiliation they might belong to, or who they might vote for, those are inappropriate for career positions.
And the president’s glad that Attorney General Mukasey made sure that that is no longer ongoing at the Justice Department. And it’s nothing that we could defend, and we never have.
QUESTION: But you won’t go so far as to say that, looking at Alberto Gonzales’ Justice Department, President Bush is disappointed this was going on?
PERINO: Well, I think that we are — overall disappointment in the situation, sure.
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Why would they be disappointed? He did just what they wanted.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:05 pmWhat kind of question is that anyway?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:06 pmAnother case of crimes just happening passively, without anyone being responsible.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:07 pmWe know you’re not disappointed, but we’re certainly disappointed in you, Mr. President.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:07 pmHmmmm..
Liar…check
Panderer….check
Willing to sell his soul for a job…..check
Suck-up….check
Kept us out of jail….check
What’s to be disappointed about?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:09 pmDisappointed?!? Considering the crew of hacks, flunkies, nitwits and incompetents (Rumsfeld, Feith, Wolfie, Brownie, Condi, etc.) this administration hired and sometimes even promoted, Gonzo may be in the upper half of his pledge class and perhaps even valedictorian material. He did exactly what Chimpy wanted — politicized the hiring of career employees so as to ensure winger influence long after Bush is gone — and got away with it.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:10 pmBush Administration:
Say it loud, say it proud, “PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY!”
July 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pmOverall disappointment…from being caught. These partisan hacks are proud of their tribal loyalty.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pmIt could be said the both Bush AND Gonzalez were MIS-appointed.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:13 pmA rational human would have fired Gonzo the very first time he answered “I don’t recall” about one of the major duties expected of an AG.
Chimpy defended him after 70 “I don’t recalls”. I think it’s fair to say that Chimpy is not rational or, fully, human.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:13 pmDana Perino, bless her heart. Such a liar.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:17 pmDissapointed/disappointed? Let’s call the whole TP spelling bee off…
July 30th, 2008 at 3:18 pmStratRat Says:
Dana Perino, bless her heart. Such a liar.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
On the other hand. She may just be so effing stupid and ignorant that she doesn’t know she’s lying. Her masters could ask her to report on terrorism in Atlantis and she would blather on, and on, without realizing she’d been had.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:21 pmWe could staff the DOJ with kids from Special Ed classes – and they’d do a better job.
Sad, isn’t it?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:21 pmpete:
Dana: “What’s the Bay of Pigs? (giggle)
Dana’s Husband: (sigh) Oh, Dana.
It’s like she’s the lead in a ’60s sitcom about a bubble-headed blond in her first job in “the big city” and all the wackiness that then ensues!
Hilarity for all. Fun for the whole family!
July 30th, 2008 at 3:27 pmDana Perino, bless her heart
Working for this administration she is allowed to have a heart? Is it just the soul they extract?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:27 pmwhy should the WH be disappointed?!? Has anything happened to those who were improperly hired? Has anything happened to those that improperly hired (other than losing their jobs, ooh ahh)? Has anything happened to the Unitary Executive from whom all good (and bad) things come – I mean if Unitary is to have any meaning it must be that the buck stops with the head of the Unitary Executive. This, like the wiretapping and the torture, are express and explicit violations of federal law. If you’re an “ordinary American”, the solution is simple – break the law (or just be in the wrong place at the wrong time and not be able to afford the attorney to argue your way out) and go to jail. Regent University grads and Bush cronies apparently can’t be touched – just ask the Democratic Congress.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:28 pmDana’s the anamatron they found under Walt Disney’s bed. Wind her up and watch her go!
July 30th, 2008 at 3:29 pmTanq, You’re a pip!
July 30th, 2008 at 3:32 pmDefense Mechanisms
The concept of defense mechanisms was introduced by Freud in the 1890s. In general, defense mechanisms are subconscious, almost automatic, ego-protecting reactions to unpleasant situations. People use these defenses to soften feelings of failure, to alleviate feelings of guilt, and to protect their sense of personal worth or adequacy.
Compensation
Projection
Rationalization
Denial of Reality
Reaction formation
Flight
Aggression
Resignation
July 30th, 2008 at 3:32 pmWhere’s CJ Cregg when we need her?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:33 pmTanqueray Says:
Maybe they just don’t want to alienate the Hispanic population. My yard crew, pool cleaner and cleaning lady would support McCain if they could vote.
I’m trying to convince them that Barry(fist-tap) is the guy, but it just falls on deaf ears. (Heck, Roza won’t even dust the portrait of Barry(fist-tap) hanging in the den.
Nope. No ignorant racism is these words. No siree Bob. Just good old fashioned low IQ standards.
I would bet my bottom dollar that ‘Roza’ is better educated than you are. How much you wanna bet? How about the pink slip to your Schwinn bicycle?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:35 pmpaleolib Says:
Dana Perino, bless her heart
Working for this administration she is allowed to have a heart? Is it just the soul they extract?
They keep her soul in escrow until the end of the term. If she doesn’t turn state’s witness and testify against Bushco, she gets back her soul, less a re-stocking fee.
A reasonable transaction.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pmHey, Tanq, guess what …… the Hispanic are 63 to 37 per cent in favor of Obama. Your endentured servants must be part of the LIV, just like you are.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:40 pmSo the Attorney General isn’t responsible for what his people do ? I thought we had “the accountability president” ????
I can hear Limbaugh now – These liberals always say “It wasn’t my fault” or “It is my parents’ fault” or “The world is against me” rather than taking responsibility for their actions………..what, we’re talking about a republican …….uh it was clearly the liberal media out to get him.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:47 pmMapleStreet Says
July 30th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
So the Attorney General isn’t responsible for what his people do ? I thought we had “the accountability president” ????
________________________________________________________
Uh — not quite. What we have is the president who promised to “restore dignity to the White House” by not getting blow jobs in the Oval Office. As far as I’ve been able to tell, he’s lived up to that promise.
Of course, there are those of us who place more importance upon the promise to “protect and defend the constitution” than we do any promise regarding blow jobs. Unfortunately, it looks like Bush and his merry band haven’t lived up to that promise quite as well.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pmWhitte Housse nott dissappointed inn Gonzzales. Nno wword yett on ssatissfacttion witth spelllling.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:58 pmTanqueray:
Are you a person of sophistication or do you just like to play pretend? By the way your poll person, yard crew and cleaning lady think you are a jackass.
CLEANING LADY, CLEANING LADY!!!!!
July 30th, 2008 at 4:15 pmTanq hires illegal scary brown immigrants for subminimum wages?
Well, that’s very Republic of you.
On another note, I believe Gonzo graduated higher in his class than McBudweiser, ‘King of Fears’.
How do I know this, you may ask? Do the math…you can’t get lower than Johnny McGeriatric.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:21 pmWhich is it Dana, did you read the report or not?
This woman is such a liar.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:53 pmTanqueray Says
Flagged for racism and immaturity.
Bigot much, Archie Tang?
tony and lido
<
July 30th, 2008 at 5:18 pmMs. Purina almost makes me ashamed to be a blonde.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:20 pmIt’s like asking Hitler if he’s disappointed in Goebbels. I would expect he’d say no, don’t you?
July 30th, 2008 at 5:29 pmHEY TP ADMIN:
Has anyone asked Dana Perino about the Monica Goodling revelations yet? Any questions about ANY of what came out yesterday?
If not, how about starting a clock for how many days before anyone takes notice of probably the biggest breaking story since Watergate? (Sorry, BJgate doesn’t count for an administrative scandal.)
July 30th, 2008 at 6:08 pmThey’re simply skirting around the issue here.
How about some friggin’ meat!?!?
July 30th, 2008 at 6:09 pmObviously, cause in W(orst)’s world, if you didn’t know about something, then you are absolved from any responsibility of it. Ya know, like if you invade a country, and don’t plan what to do after “mission accomplished”, then there’s no way anyone can blame you for fscking it up so badly.
This logic works best when applied to Military Commanders, CEOs, Levie Engineers, FEMA Directors, Mortgage Brokers, Hedgefund Investors, EPA Directors, and so on.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:10 pmDumb question: if a school principal or teacher had students turning in performances as poor as we see from Gonzo, would they pass no child left behind ?
July 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pmLet’s get this straight and stop with the niceties…
First! Perino is a C0cksu(king Liar! Period.
Second! If she even likes America, much less loves it, she would quit her job!
Third! She’s stupid to the core OR very good at faking it!
Fourth! If she continues to participate in this administration she is a WAR CRIMINAL!
July 30th, 2008 at 7:42 pmOf course they aren’t disappointed in Gonzo. It would make them look bad for picking his sorry azz.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:08 am