Today's press briefing. Was Gannon back in the room?

[returnable]

Just got done reading today's hilarious transcript and came across this gem:

QUESTION: Considering the widespread interest and the absolutely frantic Democrat reaction to Karl Rove’s excellent speech to conservatives last month, does the president hope that Karl will give a lot more speeches?

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/07/11/briefing-711


Anyone happen to catch who actually lobbed this softball?

[Roland99]

1. Was there anyone with sh*t on their nose?

[Pirate Smile]

2. That is that crazy Lester guy. I'll go find his last name. He is always

whacked.

edit to add - It is LESTER KINGSOLVING

A little something I found on him from a Wash Post article:

"As the case of Jim Guckert, AKA Jeff Gannon has amply demonstrated, the bar for getting into the White House Briefing Room is pretty low.

But the fact of the matter is that the White House press office and the press corps have a long tradition of tolerance when it comes to eccentrics in their midst.

The current crop includes Lester Kinsolving, Raghubir Goyal, Connie Lawn and Russel Mokhiber -- each wondrously special in their own way.

Dana Milbank wrote in The Washington Post in 2002 how they can sometimes be useful foils for a wily press secretary: "Want to change the subject to foreign affairs? Call on Raghubir Goyal of the India Globe (he'll ask about the perfidies of Pakistan) . . . or Connie Lawn (a freelancer with particular interest in the Middle East). . . .

"Want to end the briefing by turning the whole thing into a circus? You might choose Russell Mokhiber of the Corporate Crime Reporter (he'll launch into a tirade about greed), or Baltimore radio personality Lester Kinsolving (he'll ask about how 'the Reverend Mr. Jackson impregnated his mistress and used tax-exempt contributions to get her out of Chicago'). Within seconds, the wire service reporters in the front row will beg for an end to the briefing."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25637-2005Feb15.html

Edit to add a thread from during Scottie's press gaggle.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1919653#1919675

We mentioned the reporter from India and Scottie did call on him for relief like it says in the WP article.

[montanacowboy]

KINSOLVING?

[Moochy]

13. He's got some history reporting on Jonestown (maybe relative?)

[e-mail]

http://jonestown.sdsu.edu/AboutJonestown/Tapes/Tapes/TapeSummaries/805a.htm

Check this out on him, Jim Jones says:

Jones has a particular candidate for the villain in the piece, though. Lester Kinsolving, a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner whose relationship with Jones is mutually antagonistic, has been behind some of the wiretaps against the church, according to Jones (and, by extension, against some of the other causes in town who suspect that they are bugged). Jones said he even had proof of the taps, which had been provided by a telephone operator, but he was reluctant to press forward with charges because he was afraid of recriminations against the woman. Jones also accuses Kinsolving of bribery, and reminds the man he’s speaking to that the columnist was dropped by the Washington press corps for his actions, and “maybe … that old columnist is back at us again.”

Kinsolving and Jones seem to be at an impasse – a possible motive for this latest harassment – over what the columnist knows about the church. “So the sucker knows some things about us…” Jones says, “ut we had not heard him since we sued him.” Instead of Kinsolving coming forward with what he knows and thereby risk legal reprisals, Jones speculates, “he has just chosen to make all these weird weird allegations against us.”

[tmooses]

3. I don't know who it was, but it sure seemed like the token White House

plant. No pun intended on "plant' or Toke".

[Guckert]

4. Jeff, Is that You . Karl has missed you so.

[bryant69]

5. Is "Frantic" a synonym for insulted and pissed off?

Well you learn something everyday. Unless you are a member of the Bush administration of course.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Nite Owl]

6. I think this question

was asked by the guy that asked about Clinton being considered for the Supreme court. Not sure, it's about where I tuned in but I got the feeling he was being sarcastic to little Scottie.

[Richard Steele]

11. Yes, the Clinton question was from the same man. VERY sarcastic!

And it got a good laugh from the Corps.

[returnable]

12. Darn that transcript!

They should've included <sarcasm> tags :hi:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. First thing that came to my mind when I heard this. lol! n/t

[Richard Steele]

8. It's much better when you can actually LISTEN to it:

http://www.cspan.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100

The press is snickering and laughing as Scotty SQUIRMS!

And I agree, that question was an absolute GEM!
Brilliantly SARCASTIC!
Dunno who asked it tho...did they have anyone from TDS there?

[democracyindanger]

9. Les Kinsolving, longtime gaggle participant.

He's a wingnut, but he's his own wingnut; whereas Guckert was clearly bought and pair for.

[blogslut]

10. I thought he sounded downright sarcastic...

..when he asked it. It sure gave the rest of the WH Press Corp a giggle.