the changing ethical rethoric of the WH -short and sweet (with links)

[rodeodance]

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=100480&lftnav=progressreport

DAILY GRILL

"We must remember the high standards that come with high office. This begins careful adherence with the rules. I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries (that) define legal and ethical conduct. No one in the White House should be afraid to confront the people they work for over ethical concerns, and no one should hesitate to confront me as well." -- President Bush, 7/22/01

VERSUS

Q: Two years, and can't call Rove in and find out what the hell is going on? I mean, why is it so difficult to find out the facts? It costs thousands, millions of dollars, two years, it tied up how many lawyers? All he's got to do is call him in.
MR. McCLELLAN: You just heard from the President. He said he doesn't know all the facts. I don't know all the facts.
Q : Why?
MR. McCLELLAN: We want to know what the facts are. Because --
Q Why doesn't he ask him?

-- White House Press Briefing, 7/18/05

[Inland]

1. "Why doesn't he ask him"? Why, indeed.

Doesn't care what happened.

Knows what happened.

Doesn't know and doesn't want to have to testify to the GJ.

[Dhalgren]

2. Bush knows what happened, but as usual he has fucked things

up. He and his moron-mob can't pour piss from a boot!

First, they fucked up by conspiring to smear Wilson using his wife's CIA employment. What kind of lame-brained, dim-witted, two-bit kinda smear tactic was that?! They focus in on the only thing that seems to be slightly off in Wilson's op-ed piece? Wilson indicates that the VP sent him and instead it was a CIA decision that his wife was involved in?! That's it?! That's all they got out of the whole op-ed piece?! That's all they could come at Wilson with?! Someone, somewhere should have had a sufficient amount of gray matter to say, "Hey, this isn't a very effective way to smear the guy and we could get in trouble."

Second, they fucked up by having the upper echelon of the WH staff actually do the dirty work - and they didn't even try to pull a "Deep Throat", secret identity thing; they just phoned their media butt-boys (probably from Air Force One!) and told 'em over the phone!

Third, they fucked up by not even having the gumption to set up a "fall guy" and have "outs" for all the major players!

You know, this wasn't just stupid, it was arrogant - hubris - these guys think that they can get away with anything. Well, that remains to be seen...