Bush Ready to Cooperate in CIA Leak Case

[Kadie]

Bush Ready to Cooperate in CIA Leak Case

9 minutes ago


By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) said Thursday he was ready to cooperate in the grand jury investigation of who leaked the name of a covert CIA (news - web sites) operative last year and that he had consulted with an attorney to determine if he needs legal advice.


"I've told our administration that we'll fully cooperate with their investigation" Bush said. "I want to know the truth. I'm willing to cooperate myself."


Bush's move suggests the president anticipates being questioned by prosecutors about whether he could shine any light on the case. But there is no indication that Bush is a target of the investigation.


"In terms of whether or not I need advice from counsel, this is a criminal matter, it's a serious matter," the president said. "I have met with an attorney to determine whether or not I need his advice, and if I deem I need his advice, I'll probably hire him."


Earlier, Bush's chief spokesman, Scott McClelland, confirmed that Bush had contacted Washington attorney Jim Sharp. "In the event the president needs his advice, I expect he probably would retain him," McClellan said. There is no indication Bush has been questioned yet.

more...http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&e=3&u=/ap/20040603/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_cia_leak

[sniffa]

1. just now?

it took him Long enough. what a big, throbbing asshoLe we have in the white house.

[central scrutinizer]

12. yeah, it only took about TEN months

to finally cooperate on a fucking TREASON investigation!

[Demeter]

2. SURE He Is!

That repetitive thumping noise you hear is the sound of many shoes falling....finally!

[jackstraw45]

3. Poor poor journalism....

This article makes it seem like the leak happened last week.

It's well known that the White House has stalled the investigation AT EVERY TURN.

But Bush* says he's "ready to coorperate" and all is forgotten.

:eyes:

[Walt Starr]

4. Might have something to do with the fact that HE FUCKING CONSPIRED

TO COMMIT TREASON!

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_4629.shtml

[lancdem]

9. I wonder what their sources are

Capitol Hill Blue sometimes has some really good stuff.

[calimary]

32. I do not know, myself. Don't read it regularly. Will Pitt and a few others

here caution that it's a somewhat flaky site.

I do not know. HOWEVER, what I DO know is that LOTS of people read it in and around Washington, apparently including lots of insiders. Further, it seems to be rather nonpartisan. I've read stuff in there that's trashed Clinton and the Democrats, too. Plus, I've also read that it's run by right-wingers.

But if it's quoting witnesses to the grand jury? Witnesses - PLURAL? MORE THAN ONE person telling a federal grand jury about this stuff? Hmmm...

Seems to me where there's smoke, there's probably a conflagration.

[a_random_joel]

30. WOWZERS!

A conspiracy charge at the MINIMUM.

Wonder if he'll plead to avoid harsher charger and the harsher punishments that go with them.

[MallRat]

5. So NOW he's ready to cooperate?

Is there a good reason why he WASN'T cooperating up until now?

:mad:

[Beetwasher]

6. OK, I'm Ready Now! What Are You Waiting For? Start the Damn Questioning

already! Jeez, you guys are so slow! You Got 4 minutes, GO!

Oh well, you missed the opportunity! I was ready, but now your 4 minutes are up! Maybe I can fit you back into my schedule in Februrary.

[russian33]

7. I hope..

..he co-operates as good as he co-operated with 9/11 Commission <end sarcasm>

[otohara]

8. He's "willing" to cooperate!!

Smirking asshole - he cannot bring himself to say anything of importance with out putting a smirky spin on it.

[nolabels]

22. Is he sure what his job description is?

THE EVOLUTION OF U.S. CRIMINAL LAW

By James B. Jacobs
(snip)
The Federal System

There are over 20 specialized federal law enforcement agencies, most of which are in the Departments of Justice and Treasury. The most prominent federal law enforcement agencies are the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration (in the Department of Justice) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Secret Service and the Customs Service (in the Department of the Treasury). These agencies are located in Washington, D.C., with field offices around the United States, and in some cases, abroad.

Federal prosecutors, called "U.S. attorneys," are appointed by the president for each of 94 judicial districts in the United States. They prosecute only federal crimes in federal courts. As presidential appointees, U.S. attorneys have a great deal of independence, but they are accountable to the U.S. attorney general, who heads the Department of Justice and who is a member of the president's Cabinet.
(snip)
http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itdhr/0701/ijde/jacobs.htm

(snip)
"Let's just say I had a lot to learn about
beating the witness."

The Euphemism Generator
Hit "Reload" for ENDLESS FUN
(snip)
http://walkingdead.net/perl/euphemism

[Jacobin]

37. That jumped out at me, too

"willing to cooperate". In other words, he HASN'T in the past cooperated (otherwise he "had cooperated"). He Fucking Hasn't cooperated but is now "willing to cooperate", I suppose given the right circumstances, like making sure HIS silly little ass gets out of the crack for this shit.

What a smirking frat boy idjit dumbass fuckhead.

I'm enraged, even more than normal. This silly man needs to retire back to Crawford NOW

[spotbird]

10. There is a relationship between this and the Tenent resignation.

It is too much of a coincidence. My money says Tenent testified truthfully, and * needs a lawyer as a result.

[Frances]

20. Do you think?

I was trying to figure out the connection between Bush hiring a lawyer and Tenet resigning myself.

[calimary]

36. My husband was watching CNN this morning and said people on the air

were actually bringing this up. He cited John King, specifically, as noting that there'd been speculation the Tenet resignation happened to deflect attention from the fact that bush sought out a personal lawyer in the Plame Game. If THAT is being spoken about, openly, then GOOD!!!!!!!!! It means if the John Kings of the world are saying it, LOTS of other people are, too, and even more are thinking it.

And it means something else, besides this.

The mere fact that a John King or whoever it was would actually bring this up on the air is remarkable, in and of itself. One year ago, or even back just a few months (maybe January or so, before things just started majorly going downhill for bush) NOT ONE REPORTER OR ANCHOR OR PUNDIT - NOT ONE - would have put such a qualifier in their reporting. It would have been all smooth-sailing, no muss-no fuss reporting on bush, and ALL favorable. WHEN, until recently, do you recall ANY reporting on this White House, including ANY serious mentions of what the opposition said or thought or suspected, or voiced concern about? When did we EVER hear any reporter or anchor adding a little fuller perspective from other views than those in complete lockstep with the White House, in their reporting or commentary?

This tells me that the tide among journalists has turned. They're no longer afraid - probably for several reasons. 1) The White House modus operendi has been ratted out - the threats, the pulling of access. Not ratted out broadly, but more people have now heard about it. 2) They smell blood in the water and are probably reasoning that the bushies have more or less had all their teeth and claws removed. Or that such procedures are either underway, or in the immediate future. Therefore, they as journalists aren't at as much risk of being hurt as badly anymore. 3) They sense that the PUBLIC has turned - so it's time to pander to whoever the new "in crowd" seems to be now. Even the thickest of them can't avoid the consistently slumping poll numbers, especially in view of the 130-some-odd million dollars in campaign commercials that have been splattered all over everywhere, and that such princely sums for propaganda are still being outshouted by the consistently and increasingly crappy news from Iraq.

Any way you slice it, it's bad for the bushies and GREAT for all the rest of us!!!!

[FormerOstrich]

11. but but but.....

that's what he said at the time......he wanted to know.....he wanted cooperation....he was cooperating. :wtf: Does anybody still buy into this shit?

[Don_G]

13. With A Lawyer?

A former assistant lawyer with the US Attorneys Office in DC and just after Tenant's announcement?

[snippy]

14. So release any journalists involved from their obligation not to reveal

a confidential source. The White House did this concerning a background briefing conducted by Richard Clarke as an unamed administration official after he testified to the 9/11 Commission.

[Cocoa]

15. he should be LEADING the investigation

both this one and the Chalabi one. Why does he seem to care so very little about these serious matters?

[MaineDem]

16. This really pisses me off

I can't tell you how angry I am!

Didn't the Boy George say when this happened that the White House was cooperating? Didn't he tell everyone in the WH to speak up and be fully cooperative? Does he EVER tell the truth?

And why now? He's on his way to Europe. The WH press corps has other things to do and they're not in Washington right now. This will blow over and I'm angry as hell!

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lancdem]

17. There is a lot of schadenfreude for me here

This reminds me of when Clinton was president, and now Bush (who prided himself on being the anti-Clinton) sounds like him.

[Frances]

21. But remember Bill and Monica

were just having sex.

Bush is destroying our country and a few others besides.

[lancdem]

24. Oh, I know there's an enormous difference

But Bush being forced to hire a lawyer, five months before the election, has me grinning maniacally.

[Catfight]

27. I know...Mr. Patriot Straight talker W., tried for treason! And stonewall

everyone who investigates his administration. Now if I could just wake up from this 4 year nightmare and he was never president.

[calimary]

39. Make your schadenfreude work for you - and, in fact, SING for you!

PLEASE NOTE MY SIG LINE – TO CALL YOUR REPS, TOLL FREE!!!

OR, TRY (877) – 762 – 8762. It’ll get you there, too! (Thank you, DUer redqueen!)


Please note, here, The World's Greatest Lists of Media Contacts – updated May 5, 2004– in the following thread:

LINK:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1533796#


IF THEY THINK WE DON’T CARE, THEY WON’T, EITHER!

[Ganja Ninja]

19. He's ready to stall until he can stall no longer.

Then he'll start issuing pardons left and right.

[Rainbowreflect]

23. "I'm willing to cooperate myself."

Is that even legal? What an ass!

[robbedvoter]

25. Like he cooperated with the leak itself?

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/printer_4629.shtml
Bush Leagues
Bush Knew About Leak of CIA Operative's Name
By Staff and Wire Reports
Jun 3, 2004, 05:28

[Elidor]

28. Wow - I hadn't heard this

Cue Rush - "But he did not receive a blowjob in the White House, folks. There's no crime here, just some old-fashioned down-and-dirty politicking. The democrats are politicizing our game of politics and I, for one, am disgusted and outraged. The president should be free to destroy the career of anyone who crosses him. If we tie his hands with silly laws and rules, he'll never get anything done!"

If true, this most definitely qualifies as "high crimes and misdemeanors." Show the illegitimate punk bastard to his cell already! :nuke:

[Just Me]

31. Knowledge of that lead = orange prison garb + small cell. n/t

[underpants]

26. DON'T FOGET the time delay in DoJ telling WH to save documents

I believe it was a Friday afternoon when the White House finally agreed to stop trying to halt the inevitable and okayed Justice to send them an e-mail telling them to save all e-mails, memos, etc.


BUT

The White House got DoJ to wait until the next morning before officially sending them the e-mail.

Wonder what took place over that night. :think:

[arwalden]

29. What's He Hiding. Just Tell The TRUTH. He Doesn't Need A Lawyer If He's...

telling the truth... or if he HONESTLY wants to come clean and tell the truth.

Only criminals hire lawyers. Only the guilty need lawyers.

-- Allen

(Where have you heard those words before?)

[andino]

33. I kinda wonder if....

Tenet getting canned has anything to do with this....

[Malva Zebrina]

34. He us willing to cooperate as long as he deals the cards.

and controls the investigation/questioning. I am sure, he actually thinks that means that the grand jury must cooperate with him--he said on national TV that does not testify--remember?

[skip fox]

35. Just WHO the leaker is . . . Extremely important

If Rove leaked, then he would have fessed up to W. Therefore W. knew after the fact and we're into obstruction territory. If someone in the VP's office leaked (like Scooter Libby) then he would have fessed up to Cheney, who in turn would have told W. Therefore we have two obstruction cases potentially. For the 2nd hypothesis, see the following link naming Libby with the rational.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1712820

[Kool Kitty]

38. The next time that W has some sort

of press photo-op, one of the esteemed media should ask him what took so friggin' long. This has been around for the better part of a year, and now he's willing to cooperate? Mighty large of him, ain't it?

[Fovea]

40. So who will be the New Veep, then New President?

I am thinking a McCain/Giuliani ticket.