until proven otherwise, gannon is a major, embarrassing security f*ckup

[unblock]

we can't be "maybe this" and "maybe that" about it. any uncertainty lets them mischaracterize the whole thing as smears and rumors and crap.

so until proven otherwise, the gannon story is all about the major security embarrassment of permitting a credential-free male prostitute frequent day passes to visit the white house, and whom the president himself knew on a first name (albeit of an alias) basis.

let's not talk about how maybe certain white house officials gave him special help, etc.

no, let's let THEM bring that up if they want out of being on the losing side of the security snafu story. let THEM prove that they were involved! and if they don't, then they must let the story stand that they gave an insane amount of access to the white house and to the president to, well, if they let THIS guy in, then ANYONE can get in.

let's hammer them on the fact that this proves that they are completely incompetent at intelligence and security and that we need DEMOCRATS in office to protect ourselves better.

i see no reason for US to chase after any other angle.

[mattclearing]

1. Agreed. n/t

[Mabus]

2. Airport security tighter then clearance for WH press corps

I have a harder time boarding a plane with my real name (I have to show up early, let them go through my bags, show them ID - with my REAL name- etc.) This guy shows up and gets close to the Bush and the whole hee haw gang.

For an adminstration whose concern is allegedly security this just goes to show how clueless they really are.

:wtf:

[Zan_of_Texas]

3. Well yeah.

You have to take your shoes off to get on an airplane.

What do you have to take off to get into a White House press conference?

<oops, perhaps I am off message here.....>

[Goldmund]

4. I disagree

The thing is, that is simply not true. This was obviously not a security lapse. There are countless testaments by journalists who wanted to get into the press room but were refused. And yet this guy who not only was living an illegal lifestyle, but also WORKED FOR NO NEWS ORGANIZATION AT ALL WHEN HE WAS LET IN (contrary to the blatant lie by Scott McLellan the other day), was in there for TWO YEARS. In addition, he either got a hard pass (which then catches the WH in another lie), or got hundreds of daily passes -- each time it was a security lapse? No way man, this just doesn't fly.

[unblock]

11. i agree with your analysis but disagree with the tactics

of course i believe the white house had him they because they wanted him there.

but my point is, if WE go a-hunting for the smoking gun and don't find it, then THEY control the scandal. they can leak forged documents again, they control the timing of the discoveries, and they can sow confusion and paint the whole thing as baseless allegations.

but the security lapse/post 9/11 incompetence angle is something they can't deny, we've already got the goods to support this angle. the only way out for them is to say they meant to have him there -- which means they would have to volunteer up exactly the stuff we would have to hunt for if we did it the other way.

[Goldmund]

14. I dig what you're saying...

but I'm afraid that it'll turn into just another mini-scandal like letting a knife pass through a metal detector, or something. They'll be like "our bad, we'll improve it" and MSM will be happy...

[rocktivity]

5. This is a no-win situation for the Bush White House

If Gannon got his press pass by accident, someone needs to be fired. If he didn't, someone needs to be investigated. And there's any payola or blackmail going on, someone needs to be indicted. Best of all, we no longer have to "rely" on the sex angle--since Talon is owned by a partisan political group, it shouldn't have gotten ANY kind of press pass no matter how long it had been in business. In other words, the Bush White House is going to HAVE to admit that has been either a "major embarrassing security f-up" or a VERY intentional corruption conspiracy. It's special prosecutor time!

:headbang:
rocknation

[cthrumatrix]

6. cmc (Corporate Media Cartel) refuses to cover it ...that is the issue

[EVDebs]

10. Operation Mockingbird rolls merrily along. eom

[rman]

7. so it's not a major "perception management" fuckup?

how many so-called "jounalists" have been exposed as RW propaganda operatives by now? at least four if i'm correct, in a few weeks time.

"it's the media, stupid"

let's hamemr them on the fact that the media is for the major part a RW propaganda machine, which means democracy in the US isn't what it used to be, to say the least.
I'd say the security issue is a minor component of this corporatist/neocon/reli-fundi coup.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. It's a "smear" and not a fuck up because it happened to them

and not to us. You see, they don't make mistakes, they are God's children and are 100% organized and correct at all times.

[Beetwasher]

9. NOT FREQUENT DAY PASSES BUT A HARD PASS!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3130107&mesg_id=3130107

[gasperc]

12. he was in the press room before Talon news existed

so who was getting the love that cleared Gannon through secret service WITHOUT working for a news agency?

was it a secret service agent?

just asking

[sandnsea]

13. That and FAKE NEWS

As reported by Maureed Down, Frank Rich and a bunch of other people today. We have a chance to shine more light on the FAKE NEWS of this Administration and walk right by it. I will never understand this party.

Google GAO Ketchum and GAO Fleishman-Hillard.

That's the story. I would bet my last dollar that someone connected to Gannon was paid by one of these or somebody else in the Omnicom family.

[unblock]

15. personally, i think gannon was blackmailing someone bigtime

a guy with no journalistic training suddenly gets a white house pass, a news organization pops up around him, and he asks very co-operative questions at press conference -- and he just HAPPENS to turn out to be a prostitute?

i think he was using his prostitution to blackmail someone into helping to create a "legitimate" career, with fame and access, for him. the person he was blackmailing could be someone in the white house, or perhaps a key donor with enough pull to convince the white house to help out.