Condi: "Sen Webb, I'm really loathe to get into questions of the president's authorities"

[RedEarth]

.........from TPM...

Sen. Webb: And this is a question that can be answered either very briefly or through written testimony, but my question is: Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take
unilateral action against Iran in the absence of a direct threat without congressional approval?

Secy. Rice: Senator, I'm really loathe to get into questions of the president's authorities without a rather more clear understanding of what we are actually talking about. So let me answer you, in fact, in writing. I think that would be the best thing to do.

Sen. Webb: I would appreciate that.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/011891.php

........Condi, why don't you try and be honest just one time....

[Solly Mack]

1. She believes in the "unitary executive" ...easy for her to answer

if she wanted to be honest...if she could be honest

[texpatriot2004]

2. Thank you Senator Webb for asking that question...too bad she

thinks she can get out of answering it.

For the record Sir, I loathe Condasleeza.

[dancingme]

3. another great Condi quote from yesterday

"It's bad policy to speculate on what you'll do if a plan fails when you're trying to make a plan work,"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011100437_3.html

[AZCat]

6. Uhhh... Not really.

But when you've never been held accountable for failed plans then I guess you don't see the need for a Plan "B" (Spectrum7, Harkin, Arbusto...)

[babylonsister]

7. That's been their problem all along, hasn't it.

With this admin, no one has ever looked towards the future or considered alternate options should their mighty plans fail. That goes for Iraq, Katrina, and I'll just bet no one is considering the ramifications of getting involved with Iran, either.

[wtmusic]

12. The Bush administration is incapable of failure

I think we all know that by now.

[Marie26]

15. Contingency plans?

Who needs it? :banghead:

[Virginia Dare]

4. OMFG, we are in SERIOUS trouble...

not a news flash for most people here I know. But jeebus, these people are fucking CRAZY!!!! I'll lay odds Webb never gets his answer.

GO WEBB, THAT'S MY SENATOR, and thank the heavens for him, I can only imagine what the Bush hand puppet Felix Allen would be saying right now!!

[peacetalksforall]

9. She will give him something and tell him it cannot be shared

because of the usual - NATIONAL SECURITY. Liars. Constitutional Criminals. Destroyers of Nations. She may be the worst female politician in our history. And surpass many of our worst male leaders.

[NewJeffCT]

11. He'll get an answer

that will go through every lawyer in the White House for revisions... it will be vague references to Bush's power as Commander-in-Chief.

[Virginia Dare]

14. I could see them completely blowing him off...

there seems to be a personal feud between chimpykins and Webb.

[AZCat]

5. What kind of a SoS doesn't know the answer to this?

Does Dr. Rice take us for idiots, that we don't realize how many times this question must have come up in discussion. Not directly, of course - because it is clear that this is an accepted part of the "unilateral executive" so favored by the Bush Cabal - but because they would have to indirectly accept this when discussing how best to lie to the American public about "direct threats" from Iran (something that most certainly has happened).

More importantly, what does she think her job is, if not knowing these sort of answers? She's the fkkkin' Secretary of State, for gdd's sake!

[Virginia Dare]

10. Gates did the same thing yesterday...

pleaded ignorance. They're all treasonous bastards. How and when will this nightmare end?

[Marie26]

17. Didn't she say that awhile ago?

I have a vague memory of Rice already testifying that Bush's executive authority allows him to widen the Iraq War to other countries w/o Congressional approval. Does anyone remember that?

ETA: Here it is -

"Rice won't rule out armed action against Syria, Iran"

By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | October 20, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice refused yesterday to rule out military action against Syria and Iran -- two countries she accused of supporting the insurgency in Iraq.
Rice, speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that President Bush would not need to ask Congress for authorization to use military force against Iraq's neighbors.

''I don't want to try and circumscribe presidential war powers," Rice said in response to a question on whether the administration would have to return to Congress to seek authorization to use military force outside Iraq's borders. ''I think you'll understand fully that the president retains those powers in the war on terrorism and in the war in Iraq."

''Under the Iraq War Resolution, we restricted any military action to Iraq," Senator Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Rhode Island Republican, reminded Rice.

''So would you agree that if anything were to occur on Syrian or Iranian soil," Chafee said, ''you would have to return to Congress to get that authorization?"

Rice replied that the president did not need new authorization.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2005/10/20/rice_wont_rule_out_armed_action_against_syria_iran/


So, in the past, she's basically admitted that they will attack Syria or Iran w/o Congressional approval. I don't know why she's ducking the question now - except that she's more worried about Congressional reaction under the Democrats. If they are worried about the reaction, that must mean that they are planning/hopinng to do such an attack in the future.

[YDogg]

8. Webb should have pressed her to state when she would get her written answer to him

And I hope to hell he keeps pushing on this.

[Marie26]

13. That'll happen.... never

I remember McKinney getting the same answer. It's a nice way for them to force the questioner to move on w/o ever answering the question. It's pretty clear that Bush does think he has the authority to invade Iran &/or Syria under the IWR.

[all.of.me]

16. is "loathe" an adjective?

[G_Leo_Criley]

18. loath

Loath is the adjective. Loathe is the verb.

Here's a pretty good link:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/grammar/index.php?title=title_5&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

glc

[G_Leo_Criley]

19. written answer ...

That will clarify things I'm sure. :sarcasm:

The need to choose the written answer rather than a forthright verbal answer implies where the truth lies.


glc