The Wizard of Oz Letter (Bush testify w/Cheney)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4653858/

"The Wizard of Oz Letter"
Bush pulls back the curtain on who really runs the White House
By Eleanor Clift, Newsweek

This was the week the curtain got pulled back on the Bush presidency. In exchange for allowing Condoleezza Rice to testify under oath, President Bush gets to bring along his vice president when he appears privately before the commission.

A top Republican strategist dubbed the legal document striking the unusual deal "the Wizard of Oz letter" because it strips away the myth that Bush is in charge. Until now, it's been all speculation about Vice President Cheney's influence. With the revelation of the tandem testimony, nobody with a straight face can deny Cheney is a co-president or worse, the puppeteer who pulls Bush's strings.

Aside from being fodder for the late-night comics, the arrangement confirms Bush's inability to articulate anything without a script--or a tutor by his side. ...

OUCH!!!

And check out the picture:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/

Anyone who's watched a cop show knows you should question them separately to see if they contradict one another.

Ha!

:hi:

Did you read the whole thing? Scathing! It had to be said, but I must admit I'm surprised by her hostility. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Great piece, huh? Made my day.

Just think, we've been at this here for going on four years now.

You and I are still stuck in the bad universe. Helllllllllllllp.

:hi:

you know, the one where Al and Tipper were enjoying an evening on the Truman Balcony...
I was transported for those few moments it took me to read it, but damn I was happy and I believed!

:loveya:

But that's our secret...just between us, as Connie Chung would say.

:loveya:

I forgot that part.
Well, I'm glad that it's just between us - I'd never want to hurt Tipper. I am still game if Al's looking for a candidate to do the deed. I'm 42 so he's got to make his move soon, though.
I've got a uterus and I'm not afraid to use it for the right Democrat, and Al fits the bill.

:pals:

How can you respect a (so called) leader if he is unable to even answer a few questions by himself?

This is an embarassment to this country and the Office of the Presidency.

And some people are really going to vote for him again. :shrug:

he opened his mouth and said:

"Is our children learning?"

I believe that is a quote from Election 2000.

nt

We're , like, totally up the estuary of excrement without a manual marine propulsion device.

Cheney at the helm of the foundering ship of state, with Chimpy hanging on for dear life, as Haliburton Dick goes Full Frikkin Steam Ahead for the gooey black oil, and the rest of the world be damned.

Pathetic. Totally pathetic.

Time to click the heels on our Magic Shoes, or whatever.

Bush is proving to be the coward that we all knew he was. He is a cowardly bully who likes to talk big. He has nothing and has done nothing and is a total and miserable failure.

But what makes it more than a outrageous rant here is that he, and Rice and Powell and Wolfowitz and Runsfeld and Bolton and a host of others, are responsible for murdereing tens of thousands of innocent humuan beings with their lies. They KNEW they were lying. I am convinced they KNEW of their lies and did not care as long as they invaded Iraq and got their guys embedded there--their guys being the two hundred and more corporate buddies all set to make millions if not billions on these murders.

They KNEW they were lying, I am convinced and they are despicable human beings.

Bush is a cowardly, inept, inarticulate, incapable and stupid dumbass, who was propelled into the White House by the corrupted Supreme Court, who probably knew of the neo con agenda. He was a puppet from the beginning but you know, I really think this stupid idiot of apoor excuse for a man, actually thought he was a real president-I mean he is that stupid-it has been his way for all of his life--he never had to actually work for anything, and consequently did not develop any sense of integrity--what he developed was a sense of elitism. And so did his frump of a fat assed wife who has been all over the world travelling on her European vacations on our money--doing nothing but eating and shopping.

who are you voting for?

:smoke:

americans would NEVER have voted for big dick for prez, and he knows it. that's why they pulled him in.

git them horsies away from here!

it looks like the commission has got * on the run, trying to smoke him out of his hole!!!!!!!!

I have a list of folks who (whom?) I pester with a few emails every week. They just got a long one with Clift's article AND the "Wizard of Oz Letter". What a great phrase: "Wizard of Oz Letter". Hopefully that phrase AND the letter make it into our history books.

I can't help myself: I am of the increasingly optimistic opinion that this criminal enterprise which we call our Executive Branch is going to come crashing down. Surely they cannot hold up against the onslaught which is certain to continue and likely even increase in intensity for the next 6 months.

Think MSRNC is defecting?

Between this and "The Charlie McCarthy Hearings"...Bush will be laughed out of office!!

ROFLMAO! Thanks for the laugh ... that made my night

Before the 911 Commission, with Dubya sitting on his lap, Dick Cheney will amaze the crowd by drinking a glass of water while his life-sized dummy utters such memorable phrases as: "unnnn, ahhhh, mmmm, eeee, eeee, eeee, ooook, ooook, ooook, uranium from Affffricahhhhhh". The 911 Commissioners will go wild, giving Dick a standing ovation.

What I wouldn't give to be a comedy writer in this era. Man, the material they can handed to them every week!

the...document striking the...deal "the Wizard of Oz letter" because it strips away the myth that Bush is in charge."

With top Republicans like this, who needs enemies?

:headbang:
rocknation

???

I wonder if anyone will dare give us an account of the proceedings?

what's that lady been smokin this week? She's never had a negative word for W on Capitol Gang and now she writes a piece like Mrs. David Corn?
This must signal some erosian of support...

I was thinking the same thing. Wow. That was stinging and not her usual self.

This article is going to drive the wingers nuts. She said even St. Reagan didn't ask VP Bush to testify with him.

"Look, here's this complete ass, a buffoon, raygun, senile, old, essentially an idiot, and even HE could do things on his own."

That's how to interpret what she said.

Priceless.

I myself would be very interested to read it.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/30/gonzales.letter

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 30, 2004

Thomas H. Kean, Chairman
Lee H. Hamilton, Vice Chairman
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
2100 K St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037

Dear Chairman Kean and Vice Chairman Hamilton:

As we discussed last night, the President is prepared, subject to the conditions set forth below, to agree to the request of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States for public testimony, under oath, by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

The President has consistently stated a policy of strong support for the Commission and instructed the Executive Branch to provide unprecedented and extraordinary access to the Commission. To my knowledge, the Executive Branch has provided access to documents or information in response to each of the requests issued by the Commission to date, including many highly classified and extremely sensitive documents that have seldom, if ever, been made available outside the Executive Branch.

As an additional accommodation, the Executive Office of the President has available more than 20 EOP officials, including the National Security Advisor, for private meetings with the Commission. As you know, based on principles underlying the Constitutional separation of powers, Presidents of both parties have long taken the position that White House advisors and staff are not subject to the jurisdiction of legislative bodies and do not provide testimony - even on a voluntary basis - on policy matters discussed within the White House or advice given to the President. Indeed, I am not aware of any instance of a. sitting National Security Advisor testifying in public to a legislative body (such as the Commission) concerning policy matters.

We continue lo believe, as I advised you by letter dated March 25, 2004, that the principles underlying the Constitutional separation of powers strongly against such public testimony, and that Dr. Rice's testimony before the Commission occur only with recognition that the events of September 11, 2001 present the most extraordinary and unique circumstances, and with conditions and assurances designed to limit harm to the ability of future Presidents to receive candid advice.

Nevertheless, the President recognizes the truly unique and extraordinary circumstances underlying the Commission's responsibility to prepare a detailed report on the facts and circumstances of the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001. Furthermore, we have now received assurances from the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the Senate that, in their view, Dr. Rice's public testimony in connection with the extraordinary events of September 11, 2001 does not set, and should not be cited as, a precedent for future requests for a National Security Advisor or any other White House official to testify before a legislative body. In light of the unique nature of the Commission and these additional assurances, the President has determined that, although he retains the legal authority to decline to make Dr. Rice available to testily in public, he will agree, as a matter of comity and subject to the conditions set forth below, to the Commission's for Dr. Rice to testify publicly regarding matters within the Commission's statutory mandate.

The necessary conditions are as follows. First, the Commission must agree in writing that Dr. Rice's testimony before die Commission does not set any precedent for future Commission requests, or requests in any other context, for testimony by a National Security Advisor or any other White House official.
Second, the Commission must agree in writing that it will not request additional public testimony from any White House official, including Dr. Rice. The National Security Advisor is uniquely situated to provide the Commission with information necessary to fulfill its statutory mandate. Indeed, it is for reason that Dr. Rice privately met with the Commission for more than four hours on February 7, fully answered every question posed to her, and offered additional private meetings as necessary. Despite the fact that the Commission will therefore have access to all information of which Dr. Rice is aware, the Commission has nevertheless urged public confidence in the work of the Commission would be enhanced by Dr. Rice appearing publicly before the Commission. Other White House officials with information relevant to the Commission's inquiry do not come within the scope of the Commission's rationale for seeking public testimony from Dr. Rice. These officials will continue to provide the Commission with information through private meetings, briefings, and documents, consistent with our previous practice.

I greatly appreciate the strong support you expressed to me last for an agreement to the conditions on which we are proposing this extraordinary accommodation and your commitment to strongly advocate for the full support of the Commission. If the Commission accepts the terms of this agreement, I hope that we can schedule a time as soon as possible for such a public appearance by Dr. Rice. I want to reiterate once again, however, that Dr. would be made available to the Commission with due- regard for the Constitutional separation of powers and reserving all legal authorities, privileges, and objections that may apply, including with respect to other governmental entities or private parties.

I would also like to take this occasion to offer an accommodation on another issue on which we have not yet reached an agreement - Commission access to the President and Vice President. I am authorized to advise you that the President and Vice President have agreed to one joint private session with all 10 Commissioners, with one Commission staff member present to take notes of the session.

I look forward to continuing to work with the Commission to help it obtain the information it needs to fulfill its statutory mandate.

Sincerely,

Alberto R. Gonzales
Counsel to the President

who they had in mind to run the government before Dickie appointed himself? Who could they have chosen for this sort of charade?

sticky fingererd little weasel goes crying to his current 'daddy' figure or benefactor and expects them to bail him out of the mess he's gotten himself into. This is just rock-hard concrete proof that pResident Doofus cannot do one thing right, not even defend himself.

This just pisses me off. No one else, ever, has had the gall to demand that he get a little help on the side when testifying before and congressional panel. Unless they were there with their lawyer and were about to go down for something. This, in my opinion, is the same as bush* taking advantage of the fifth amendment against self-incrimination. But with the added twist of having a guy who is even more corrupt than himself tell his side of the story. Not even Hollywood could come up with something this weird and twisted.

:headbang:
rocknation

Perfect description of the situation. Pull back the curtain and the brains of the operation are Sneering Dick Cheney.

Meanwhile Bush is revealed to be the Scarecrow, a fellah with nary a brain cell to his name. From the movie:


SCARECROW: That's the trouble. I can't make up my mind. I haven't got a brain -- only straw.

DOROTHY: How can you talk if you haven't got a....brain?

SCARECROW: I don't know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?

DOROTHY: Yes, I guess you're right.

Source: http://www.un-official.com/The_Daily_Script/ms_wizoz.htm

a boy with no brain
who loved to give pain
meets a man with no heart
to tear Iraq apart!

gwb's leadership must be called into question in the strongest manner possible. As he quickly erodes any base he has to run on from inside his administration, Kerry has to help himself. If he ignores Bush's lack of ability to lead as commander-in-chief, he swings through a big lob.

Where is Kerry on all these obvious opportunities? I know he was on vacation, and then in surgery, but no time to take advantage of all this self-destructive behavior in the White House?