McClellan: "Now is not the time" is the new "ongoing investigation"

[EarlG]

On edit - oops, this is yesterday's press conference (I watched today's though and it was more of the same):

"...there are some that are interested in playing the blame game. The President is interested in solving problems and getting help to the people who need it. There will be a time..."

"We will look at back at the facts and we will get to the bottom of the facts and determine what went wrong and what went right. But right now..."

"There is a much larger picture here that we have to take a look at..."

"Again, there's going to be plenty of time to look at the facts..."

"You don't want to take away from the efforts that are going on right now. And if you start getting into that now, you're pulling people out that are helping with the ongoing response..."

"...there's a time to look at those issues, but now is not the time..."

"I know some just want to engage in the blame game. There will be a time to talk about all these issues..."

"We've got to continue to do everything we can in support of those who are involved in the operational aspects of this response effort. And that's what we're going to do. There will be plenty of time..."

"The time for bickering and blame-gaming is later."

"Look, you're getting into all the after-action analysis, and I can't tell you all the..."

"Again, this is getting into trying to finger-point and play the blame game. This is not the time for that."

"...now is not the time, Terry."

"This isn't a time when people are trying to look at who's to blame, or try to shift responsibility."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001055403

WHAT A CROCK. I highly recommend reading the transcript of this press conference, particularly the later parts. There are some tough questions which Scottie just can't answer, and he keeps reverting to this "now is not the time" nonsense. It's been four years since 9/11, and Katrina has allowed us a stark look at what the Bush administration has done to improve the nation's security since then: NOTHING. So can somebody please tell me when it IS the time to look into placing blame? I'd like to mark the date on my calendar.

[LynneSin]

1. Come on Earl, now is not the time to lay blame and point fingers

DAMNIT, I have to turn off the news

:banghead:

[bigbrother05]

15. Blame Game?

Sorry thought you said Plame Game. Oh well, I think I have already answered that question.

[bigbrother05]

16. The Blame Plame

Blame Plame, pa po paime,
Banana fanna foe fame,
Me my moe maim,
Blame Plame.

Sorry, been a long ten days.

[imperialismispasse]

2. We are only partway through the hurricane season

and the FEMA guy is incompetent. If not now when?? The country wont make it through another major natural disaster with these guys in charge.

[napi21]

3. Scotty is just following Rove's instructions. Hope the reporters

won't let him get away with it!

[Mr_Spock]

4. Press to Scott: "Scott, that's a talking point, Scott that's a talking ...

point, Scott, that's a talking point"

It's bad when the press can't even take the word of the Presidents representative seriously.

This administration is a joke.

It's over, pack your bags fellows before we have to come and personally chase you out of there...

[redqueen]

5. "let's not play the blame game" = "nobody in this admin is accountable!"

Despicable, this lot.

[shraby]

6. They need time to find all the memos and orders

in order to classify them as top secret.

[VolcanoJen]

7. I'm pretty sure this is yesterday's press conference, Sept. 6, 2005

Hopefully, we'll get another one today... :popcorn:

[Generic Other]

8. The nerve of this man talking about people playing games!

Unreal.

[pinto]

9. Geez, down the hall, Scottie, they're blaming the locals. And the federal

Department of Homeland Security means...what?

[Bluebear]

10. Was he a parrot in the incarnation before this one?

Now is not the time, now is not the time! BRAWWWWWK!!!!!

[VolcanoJen]

11. According to the WH site, today's press conference just concluded...

.. and video will be available shortly.

Was this on C-SPAN or C-SPAN 2 and we missed it? Grrrrr!!

[Wizard777]

12. Accessory after the fact. Let the trails go cold? Whats' next?

Are they going to try to pull an Abu Ghraib and destroy the crime scene?

[underpants]

13. Bartlett-"We really don’t have time to play the political game right now"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2070463&mesg_id=2070463

I caught the end of the press conference-Kelly O'Donell from NBC/MSNBC started to ask about the FEMA head Brown and Scottie cut her off with "LOOK there are some in this room that are trying to play the blame game to point fingers ......" he said this wasn't the time and was OUT OF THERE!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. Repugs certainly know what playing the 'blame game' is! They

wrote the book on it. The hypocrites don't want to play the 'blame game' when the blame squarely rest on their shoulders. Deflecting blame away from themselves is high on their priority list, not saving lives and accepting responsibility for their inactions and incompetency. And while they don't want Americans pointing fingers in their direction, they have no problems pointing fingers at the state and local gov of LA. Nice try.

[sunnystarr]

17. I implore every Senator and Representative

to take the lead of their President and the WH. While the President is anxious to get the chief justice hearings held, and the hearings on the vacancy of Sandra Day O'Connor to be held, and wants the votes on making tax cuts to rich people permanent, and wants to repeal the death tax, etc, etc., all Senators and Representatives are asked to work in unprecedented unity, putting aside partisan politics by following the lead set forth by our President and Karl Rove. As the issues are raised and your votes or time at Supreme Court vacancy hearings is required please select any of the following responses. Stay on message and show your support for the American people.


"We've got to continue to do everything we can in support of those who are involved in the operational aspects of this response effort. And that's what we're going to do. There will be plenty of time..."

"You don't want to take away from the efforts that are going on right now. And if you start getting into that now, you're pulling people out that are helping with the ongoing response..."

"...there's a time to look at those issues, but now is not the time..."

"This is a massive federal response effort that we have underway. We've got to stay focused on helping those who are in need right now and help them rebuild their lives and get back up on their feet. It's a time of many challenges, enormous challenges. We've got to stay focused on the task at hand. That is what the President is doing."

"There are people who are suffering, and we've got to respond to their needs, and that's what we're going to keep our focus."

"but, ..., right now, we've got to continue helping the people in the region."

"The highest priority for this administration right now is the ongoing response and recovery efforts --"

"this is a major catastrophe that we -- and we must remain focused on saving lives and sustaining lives and planning for the long-term. And that's what we're doing."


"We've got to continue to do everything we can in support of those who are involved in the operational aspects of this response effort. And that's what we're going to do. There will be plenty of time --"

"We're going to remain focused on the people."

"The time for and is later. The time for helping people in the region is now."

To do otherwise is UNAMERICAN!