White House vs. 9/11 Panel: Resistance, Resolution

[kskiska]

Just before Sen. John F. Kerry accused President Bush on Sunday of "stonewalling" an investigation into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the chairman of Bush's reelection campaign said the White House had been "entirely cooperative" with the independent commission conducting the probe.

Yet last week, Congress rushed to approve legislation extending the deadline for the Sept. 11 commission -- in large part because constant feuding with the White House had made it impossible for the panel to complete its work on time.

Ever since first opposing the commission's formation, the Bush administration has clashed with the 10-member bipartisan panel over a range of access issues, including aviation records and presidential intelligence briefings.

Even now, the panel is fighting with the White House over ground rules for private interviews with Bush and Vice President Cheney, who want to limit their meetings to one hour with the panel's chairman and vice chairman. Former president Bill Clinton and former vice president Al Gore have agreed to unlimited meetings with the full commission.

At the same time, the other major disputes between the two sides have eventually been resolved through capitulation or compromise, making the White House obstacles more akin to movable barriers than to stone walls. Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the jockeying between the two sides "has seemed almost scripted."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41468-2004Mar8.html

[bagnana]

1. why don't these damn reporters recite the HISTORY?!?

Bush did not want the 9/11 panel. He resisted its creation, and then when pushed to allow it, attempted to stick Kissinger at its head!?! Any history of the 9/11 commission without mentioning that fact is inaccurate. HOw can he claim he is cooperating when he did not want the commission created in the first place? This is so maddening.

[central scrutinizer]

7. Bush is used to getting away with this kind of stunt

As governor, he vetoed bills and when they were then passed over his veto, he took credit for the bills during the 2000 campaign. The press gave him a pass, just like with AWOL, DWI, etc. He knows that the press and the public have a 15 minute attention span.

[Disturbed]

2. A farce.

The Commision is a farce as is the Iraq commission. We the people need to get the Dems to push forward with their own investigations. The one investigation that seems to making progress is the Plame one. That one could blow Bushco out of the water. The FBI and CIA aren't real happy with Bushco. Let's encourage them to dig the sheeit out of the woodwork and indict these Bushco scum.

[alittlelark]

3. Here's to hoping that * decides to 'take the helm' to the horrification

(OK, I know it's not a word......but, yeah, it fits)that the American People feel.


It would be soooo shallow and pandering, that all but the lowest common denominator will recocnize it for what it is.

If we (as Americans, and citizens of this planet) are not smarter than this cr*d then we, as a species, do deserve to be relegated to 'has been'.

Sorry.

[leftchick]

4. As the 9/11 widow Kristin Breitweiser said last week...

The WH Stonewalled for two years before any commission was formed!! No mention of that in the article?!?

[gulliver]

5. Only 1 hour with Bush. He takes month-long vacations ...

... in Crawford, plays golf all the time, goes fishing with Poppy, goes to a record number of fundraisers, but he can only find an hour for the 9/11 Commission????

Stonewalling.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. ". . .entirely cooperative. . ." BULLSHIT !!

The facade is cracking. . .bit by bit.

:kick: