How much damage would it do to Bush if it turns out that he did know...?

[kentuck]

And all this time has been stonewalling and keeping everything secret from public examination? And there are about three other people in the Administration that also know about it, including Dick Cheney? How big a scandal would that be? Could criminal charges be brought up against any of them? Would it be an impeachable offense?

After seeing the look on Bush's face at his last news conference, when asked about prior knowledge, I cannot but believe that he indeed had a warning and has been trying like hell to vindicate himself since then. It made him very angry that the terrorists would take advantage of him like that...attack on his shift when they had all those opportunities to attack under Clinton?

Could he recover from such an earth-shaking pronouncement? What would he say? Does he wish he had listened to Sandy Berger when he tried to warn him about Osama bin Laden? Does he wish he hadn't taken that vacation to Texas in August and had read the memo that was warning him that something was about to happen? If I were in his shoes, I would try to hide it too.

[BurtWorm]

It will be as huge as the Plame-Wilson Affair

unless Bush knew with an intern under his desk, in which case, maybe it will get some coverage? :shrug:

[dusty64]

5. Very unfortuately,

I agree. The powers that be along with their media puppets will NOT allow their puppet to be damaged. Please, I hope I'm wrong.

[Syrinx]

1. Not only would it be an impeachable offense,

It would be a capital offense. It would be treason.

[LastKnight]

2. not only that.

it would be aiding and abiding a terrorist, probably some degree of manslaughter or murder. and in his work to stop investigations, obstruction of justice.

-LK

[aquart]

6. Well, it can just get in line with the other treasons.

It will be ignored because people will refuse to believe it with evidence flat in their faces. It will be spun and denied and WE WILL BE BLAMED BECAUSE THAT SON OF A BUSH BETRAYED OUR COUNTRY TO INTERNATIONAL CARTELS WHICH HAVE PICKED OUR STILL BLEEDING BODY POLITIC LIKE VULTURES.

May they never sleep.

[Silverhair]

3. If it could be PROVEN that he did know, it would be fatal

to any hope he has of reelection. He would not even get he nomination of his own party.

The important word in that is seriously proven, to a standard of proof far above that needed for the tinfoil hatters. And it would have to be detailed knowledge. Not just some vague thing like: "OBL's boys are gonna do something in the next few months."

But if it could be actually genuinely PROVEN, then even Rush would turn against him.

[Dagaz]

10. I totally agree

If this is an intelligence error then it's no big impact on Bush but IF there was a brief that moved this to better than a normal threat then this is big. I'm sure that Clinton received briefs about possible attacks and maybe even this one but it's the FBI who has to assess this threat. The CINC relys on who he has..most career employees, some leftovers and some appointees.

[neebob]

15. Dare to dream

I was thrilled to hear he was asked about it and am crossing my fingers. If I believed he'd been holding Saddam for months, I might think this is what prompted them to drop him in his hidey hole so he could be found. Sociopaths tend to incriminate themselves because they either don't understand or don't care about consequences. But then look what Reagan got away with. Not that I think he's a sociopath, but I definitely do think Bush is.

[kentuck]

4. It's definitely a cover-up....

if nothing else.

[arcane1]

7. if a tree falls in the forest...

I somehow doubt Fox News will be mentioning this very often.

I don't think any of your possibilities are likely, though, because they didn't want to stop 9/11

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. If he didnt know, he knew it was the greatest windfall for him there could

be. I remember a day or so after 9/11 when he said(with a strange, gleeful smirk) that the "War on terror is now the focus of my administration" 9/11 was so incredibly perfect for him and his cronies it is beyond words. Endless Psuedo War to make the public frightened of a phantom enemy makes it easier to do whatever the hell he wants.

[LizW]

30. That's the thing

that always gets me. I'm not convinced of MIHOP or LIHOP at least as far as Bush is concerned. However, when I look at that graph of Bush's approval ratings and see the gigantic spike they made after 9/11, I can't help wondering. The speed with which Bushco hopped on the tragedy and rode it to the PNAC wet dream of American imperialism and a cowering public is suspicious.

They may not have planned it, but without a doubt they knew something was going to happen and they did nothing to prevent it. Then when it did happen, they used it to run roughshod over all opposition. And no one, NOT ONE PERSON who should have been working to stop this from happening was fired.

[Devlzown]

9. Presidents don't get caught

doing those types of things. They can bring too many others down with them. The best we can hope for is that enough information will leak to create a significant amount of skepticism in the minds of the public. There are Republicans and Democrats who have been involved in suppression of evidence about 9/11. This has the potential of bringing down the entire government.

[grytpype]

11. It will be the last straw.

I really think the American public is near a breaking point in their opinion of Bush. If he's liable for 9/11, there's no way his presidency will survive. Who could survive that?

[Military Brat]

12. The 9/11 Commission Chair says the attack was preventable

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/17/eveningnews/main589137.shtml

Kean, the Commission Chair, is a Republican. So there will be no cries of partisanship. Even if bush did not know, I hope it becomes clear that the only reason he didn't know is because he didn't want to know. He chose to remain ignorant, he closed his eyes and ears to what was happening.

Or maybe he'll tell America, "I left it up to God's will."

[Lugnut]

13. "I left it up to God's will."

And, sadly, there are some people who would buy that. I wish I had a nickel for everytime I've heard someone say or read someone's post, "He's a god-fearin' man."

[Gemini Cat]

14. Yes, but these are the same people-

when given clear (and it has to be clear) evidence of his misdeeds, will turn against him the hardest. People hate to be fooled, even the freeps.

:dem:

[PaDUer]

17. The freeps

won't believe a word of it. They're blaming Clinton for everything because they're so OBSESSED..I'm aware that there are freeps who aren't happy with a lot of the BS already, have expressed it on several threads, until other members who live, breath *, get to that thread and pull the reins in. I did see some threads where the freeps said they put him in office, they can take him from office--WHEN?! Plus, the stupid freeps think the media is libeal. These people can't see the forest through the trees.

[Gemini Cat]

21. You are probably right!

They're too busy worrying themselves into a frenzied freepish fit about the magical mystical mythical penis of President Clinton.

Against stupidity, the Gods themselves, protest in vain.

:dem:

[0007]

27. I visited the site early this morning for the first in a long time!

They are up tight to say the least. The hatred is unbelievable, logic has gone out the door, and guess who's catching the blame? If you said Bill Clinton, you're correct.

Had to get out of there and take a shower, couldn't read 'em all.

junior is toast and will go down in 04.

[killbotfactory]

16. In a perfect world....

He'd be convicted of treason...

But, in the real world, he'd probably just resign like Nixon, and that would be the end of it...

[PaDUer]

18. Him resign?

Never happen..He's too obnoxious..Look how he calls other leaders names...He'd declare Marshall Law just to get even with the people and go hide in a closet with many bottles. Plus, he claimed Saddam wanted to kill his daddy..This is one dangerous administration who use the bible studies daily to get through the day..

[Elwood P Dowd]

19. Bush didn't know squat.

Bush is too stupid. The man can barely speak without saying “uh” or “duh” every sentence. Do you really think he could evaluate intelligence data?

Now Rove and Cheney, they’re a different animal. They are Andy and Barney, while Bush is Gomer. They put a suit on him every day, wind him up, and send him to the harvest ball.

The corporate owned press will never expose this. The big boys are stealing too much taxpayer money. Gomer is safe.

[kentuck]

20. He did say he didn't read, didn't he?

I guess they didn't spoonfeed it to him, so they are responsible, not him.

[burythehatchet]

22. That's really cynical and....

unfortunately, all too possible

[Q]

26. Some of the worst criminals in history have been 'stupid'...

...but they know enough to do what they're told so they can enjoy the benefits: power and wealth.

- You're right though...that this story will get no more coverage than any of the other dozens of scandals floating around this WH.

[dpibel]

23. Fer gawd's sake man! Don't you know we're at war?

This is not the time to criticize our Fierce Warrior Chieftain!

Quick! Get the duct tape! Man the plastic!

They're coming for YOU!!!

I think that about covers it.

[Romberry]

24. He'd be removed from office.

Doesn't get bigger than that.

[Nlighten1]

25. No he wouldn't.

They would want to name an airport after him or put him on Rushmore.

[FreakinDJ]

28. Wasn't it Tom Dashel

That went on Face the Nation ans said the 911 was the biggest political winfall bushit could have ever hoped for.

Now the reality is coming out, he did more then just hope

[RobinA]

29. Lotsa Dreamin'

on this board today. I agree this'll be as big as Wilson/Plame. The WORST that could happen will be that some fluckies will take the fall. I'm not holding my breath 'til we get any major revelations. It's going to be, "This should have been done, if that had been done...." It's NOT going to be that Osama called the White House and told them he was going to fly planes into the WTC, which seems to be what people here are expecting.

No matter what, it's not going to reach Bush.