WH Press Secretary Mocks 'Downing Street Memo'

[sabra]

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http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000963228

WH Press Secretary Mocks 'Downing Street Memo'

By E&P Staff

Published: June 16, 2005 4:25 PM ET

NEW YORK With a hearing about to begin on Capitol Hill on the so-called Downing Street Memo, hosted by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), reporters at today's White House briefing by Press Secretary Scott McClellan naturally raised the subject, albeit briefly.

Rather than ask about details or implications of the 2003 internal British document--which seemed to suggest that the Bush administration was determined to go to war against Iraq and that intelligence would be “fixed” to support it--the correspondents wondered if the White House was ever going to respond to a letter authored by Conyers and signed by 88 of his colleagues asking for information about the memo.

A transcript of two separate exchanges follows:

***

Q Scott, on another topic, has the President or anyone else from the administration responded to the letter sent last month by Congressman John Conyers and signed by dozens of members of the House of Representatives, regarding the Downing Street memo? Has the President or anyone else responded?

McCLELLAN: Not that I'm aware of.

Q Why not?

McCLELLAN: Why not? Because I think that this is an individual who voted against the war in the first place and is simply trying to rehash old debates that have already been addressed. And our focus is not on the past. It's on the future and working to make sure we succeed in Iraq.

These matters have been addressed, Elaine. I think you know that very well. The press --

<</SNIP>>

[marmar]

1. If DUMB JACKASS was an entry in a dictionary...

Scottie's picture would be right next to it.

:dunce:

[katty]

21. In the PAST? tell that to the troops and families, Scottie

[shoelace414]

2. I saw this in a play..

you may have seen it in a movie..

<hits simba>

Simba- What did you do that for?

Monkey - What does it matter? it's in the past?

[Lorien]

7. The baboon was named Rafiki (Disney trivia)

and the repugs all use the same comment when THEY are questioned, but they're still more than happy to throw the name "Monica" around at the drop of a hat.

[merwin]

3. One factual error (well, more than one, but...) It's 122 congress members

that signed it, not 88.

[maddezmom]

18. and a couple repubs that voted for the war

[BrendaStarr]

52. Good point

Thanks

[Straight Shooter]

4. Ha ha ha, those debates have NOT been addressed, Scotty-Mouth.

And our focus is on the past because the past has determined the present and is shaping the future.

This is the best the White House can come up with???

:eyes:

[indypaul]

38. Think it is above entry to the

National Archives. "Past is Prologue"
But, shouldn't expect this administration to
appreciate that. Their concentration seem to
be revising history or facts and passing out
the Kool Aid.

[thinkingwoman]

5. first they ignore you, then they laugh at you...

then they fight you, then you win.

Some guy named Ghandi said that didn't he?

The WH is at stage 2. When they get to stage 3, it will be up to freedom-loving Americans to decide if they will stand up to the fight, or fold.

[Moochy]

9. Riduclous! Absurd! No Way !! ...well.. ok a little, yes.

Woo hoo! I'd we're deep into stage 2 of gandhi's 3 step plan!

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. correct

and it is our job to make sure mr and mrs america fight it and don't fold

[BrendaStarr]

54. We win if we fight

If we win anything we have to thank those people who get out from the liberal groups anyway they can and tell someone else.

I'm just flabbergasted when I realize that so many Americans voted for Kerry and if we each could convince just one other American to vote for a Democrat next time (I'm not defending Kerry, just our ideals) they could not cover it up, the couldn't stop us.

Sometimes I think we spend a little too much time in liberal groups hiding what we know from the rest of the nation.

The fight is on every night in mixed message boards or you can even work on family and friends when convenient. We have a year and 4 months. If we can get the Congress back, we can investigate all these things.

We could even dare I say it--impeach.

[tmooses]

6. Yes, we don't want to talk about the past-it holds grounds for impeachment

[Felix Mala]

8. This way, we never have to evaluate any bonehead moves...

like giving Saddam millions of dollars worth of military equipment AFTER he gassed Iraqi citizens.

Bill O'Reilly said that was "ancient history."

[Old Vet]

14. People are dying as were discussing..........

If its wrong to lead a nation into a war under utter straight up f---ing LIES.

[LSparkle]

11. That's what IMPEACHMENT is for: to undo the past

if the facts were misused. "Accountability Moment" DO-OVER!!!!!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

12. And Nixon's press sec, Ron Ziegler,

called Watergate "A third-rate burglary." You're going to jail too, Scotty, you lying prick.

[indypaul]

39. Recall Ziegler or Nixon administration

when caught in a lie, said "that statement is
no longer operational." Would love to see a
member of the press question McClelland using
that terminology about the B.S. he is passing
out regarding the Downing Street Minutes.

[SittingBull]

13. Why carry about the past?

We're now an imperium, and while historicans studied old decissions we made we create new facts.

[magellan]

57. Too bad the British aren't going along with the scheme

They keep coming up with new facts of their own...and unfortunately for the Emperor and his gang, they're solid facts being set free in the here and now.

[UpInArms]

15. these matters will be "addressed"

when you (Scotty Lying Lap Dog)and the criminals you spew for have new addresses at the Hague.

[aresef]

20. Amen

...but we all know that that sadly will never happen.

[XemaSab]

32. mmmmm....

I think we're getting the mo.

I think the mo is on our side.

Anyone have the chart of Bush's poll numbers for the newbie?

The one that looks like the beak of a canvasback, or the ski jump at the winter olympics?

[UpInArms]

44. this one?

[XemaSab]

59. That's the one

thanks a bunch!

[UpInArms]

43. Welcome to DU aresef!

:hi:

[aresef]

45. Heh, thanks.

I've been lurking for a while, I just haven't been posting that much.

[tk2kewl]

16. Yeah? So it was someone who saw through the bullshit from the beginning

and now wants the rest of the world to know that your boss and his thugs lied from the get go.

[zara]

17. OLD NEWS!

So what if it wasn't reported, its now 6 weeks old, over done with, dead, and moreover, the person who is complaining was never on board with the whole charade, so just another malcontent. Only those who lied with us have standing to complain, and if they do, we'll tear them to pieces after forcing them to resign, disgruntled EX employees the lot!!!!!

[otohara]

19. WOW - How Fucking Predictable

this is what the MSM is going to report on tonight, not the meeting itself.

[Supersedeas]

22. You know that Media Ho...so the Press needs to suck it up and make this go

away...NOW

[billyoc]

23. See you soon at your press briefings

in the prison dayroom, Scotty-mouth. :grr:

[dhinojosa]

24. Terry Moran vs. Scott McClellan on 'Last Throes' of Insurgency in Iraq

Published: June 16, 2005 4:00 PM ET

NEW YORK With polls showing rising public concerns about the war in Iraq, and even some Republicans calling for a withdrawal timetable, White House correspondents and White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan responded in their separate ways today. At his daily briefing, McClellan announced that the President was going to bring a “sharper focus” to the issue in new discussions with the public, while reporters seemed respond not only to that but to rising criticism of their performance in holding the administration's feet to the fire.

After McClellan outlined the president's plans, leading up to a key June 28th speech, ABC correspondent Terry Moran asked a pointed question, which referred back to an assessment recently made by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Q Scott, is the insurgency in Iraq in its 'last throes'?

McCLELLAN: Terry, you have a desperate group of terrorists in Iraq that are doing everything they can to try to derail the transition to democracy. The Iraqi people have made it clear that they want a free and democratic and peaceful future. And that's why we're doing everything we can, along with other countries, to support the Iraqi people as they move forward….

Q But the insurgency is in its last throes?

McCLELLAN: The Vice President talked about that the other day -- you have a desperate group of terrorists who recognize how high the stakes are in Iraq. A free Iraq will be a significant blow to their ambitions.

Click for more...
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000963211

[wallwriter]

25. That's right. An increase in sophistication and frequency

means *we're* winning.

[Jack Rabbit]

26. I think the desperate group in the White House and Pentagon

Send them here . . .



The Palace of Peace
The Hague
Home of the International Criminal Court

Photo from the Instituut voor Internationaal Reecht (Belgium)

[RalphReedsWreckedEm]

27. They hate freedom.....

It's just a desperate band of foreign fighters who hate democracy, uhh, the insurgency is in its last throes, uhhh....Freedom's on the March.....uhhh

[Halliburton]

28. Wha?

A Whitehouse reporter asking a tough question? Thats it, time to rev up that speech about being unpatriotic before the war. That'll make 'em quail in fear!!

[jmcon007]

31. But, what about the enemy being in its last throes?

SM: Well, I think it's obvious that someone is desperate if they lower themselves to having to strap on explosives to take the fight to the enemy.

But, does this indicate they are in their "last throes"?

SM: I believe the Vice President addressed the fact that they see no way to win.

What about the enemy being in it's last throes? Will they surrender soon?

SM: My hemmorroids are hurting.

[anitar1]

46. Good for Terry Moran, I've noticed he has been

speaking out more lately. And that little Pillsbury Doughboy , Scotty, makes me want to slap his jaws. What a horrible little pudge.

[Toots]

29. Near a hundred Congressmen signed the letter and he says "the individual"

And not one single "journalist" questioned that remark. What reporting they must do...

[Jacobin]

30. Why did the word "stonewall" come to mind?

:woohoo:

[Cha]

33. That means the Downing Street Minutes

are Smokin' Dynamite! :nuke:

[whosinpower]

34. Well - murder is a crime

that was committed in the PAST too.....and we all are very aware if its CONSEQUENCES.

So, they want us to forget that the war was based on false premises and just go forward to make it successful.

I SAY NO FRIGGIN WAY!!!!!!!!! THE DEATHS OF OVER 1700 US SOLDIERS, COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF IRAQI'S ARE WAITING FOR JUSTICE.

[GoBlue]

35. Stick a fork in poor Scotty...

[Jack Rabbit]

36. The Downing Street Memo is a third rate burglary!!

Isn't that right, Scotty?

[NNN0LHI]

37. People mock what they fear n/t

[obxhead]

40. This is gonna be so FUN!!!

If this does go anywhere its going to make:
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman" seem as pathetic as it really was.
If it does go anywhere we will all have the right to say "we" did it as it wasn't the MSM that started it all.
Hope, Pray, Chant, Hex - whatever... keep on doin it!!!

[JoMama49]

47. It's 9:03 p.m. PST in California, and the news just reported

Condi Rice saying that "Iraq is the the first obstacle to America's future security" or something like that. It's like we invaded and found a hornet's nest, that's what she wants Americans to think - anything else is irrelevant, or as Scottie McClellan says "an already dealt with issue of the past"! Oh help,
JoMama.

[obxhead]

51. they say;

the past will come to haunt you.

[Guaranteed]

41. Wasn't it a 2002 document?

I thought it was written like 8 months before the war started.

[adigal]

42. I mock Scotty

Go smile and blink some more, Scotty.

[dissent1977]

48. Alright, let me get this straight...

When asked if Bush or anyone else has responded to questions of the Downing Street Memo McClellan admits "Not that I'm aware of."

Yet then he goes on to say "These matters have been addressed".

So which is it? And why doesn't the press ask him to clarify?

[zann725]

49. "First they ignore us, then they laugh at us....then we win." - Ghandi

Keep laughing Scotty. Your Press Conferences seem more desparate each day...particularly without Jeffy to lob those soft balls at you.

[LeahD]

50. They are in DENIAL!!!

If it's not a case of denial, they are surely tossing and turning and having nightmares during the night....trying to figure out how they're going to "spin" things the next day. Squirm, baby, squirm.

[anarchy1999]

53. Run, Scotty, Run! Plead family issues for why you must resign..We'll

all understand. Run, Scotty, RUN! While you can!

[krkaufman]

55. We're focused on the future, too, Scotty Boy....

... the future impeachment of your fearful leader, that is.

[PennyLane]

56. He Who "Mocks" Last......

......."mocks" best. We'll see.:*

[Supersedeas]

58. but was the case for War based on WMD's thin, Mr. McButterpants?