Bush, Cheney's joint appearance unprecedented

Register Guard .com ^ | 4/25/04 | Dana Milbank

[Libloather]

Bush, Cheney's joint appearance unprecedented
By Dana Milbank
The Washington Post

WASHINGTON - Chairman Thomas Kean's requirement that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney appear together before his commission on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, quipped: ``Well, we recognize that Mr. Bush may help Mr. Cheney with some of the answers.''

Kean's remark sparked laughter among the assembled reporters because it turned upside down the assumption of the question, and of much of official Washington: that the White House requested the joint appearance, scheduled for April 29, so Cheney could coach Bush on his answers.

While Bush has declined to explain the rationale for the joint meeting, Democrats charge that Cheney is a ``ventriloquist,'' and even a number of independent observers say it appears that the two men are trying to keep their stories straight.

[MizSterious]

I don't think that's quite true. Clinton appeared with a couple of his cronies, according to most reports.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Is there precedent for the assistant Attorney General of one administration to interrogate the president of the succeeding administration?

Didn't think so . . .

[Peach]

I imagine it's unprecedented that Clinton appeared with Sandy Berger and Bruce Lindsey too. But the press won't report that.

[EllaMinnow]

According to CNN.com, Clinton appeared with Sandy Berger and Bruce Lindsey. Why it's a big deal to the media that President Bush appears with his vice president and no big deal that Clinton shows up with his freakin' LAWYER is something that makes no sense.

[Kay]

Is Dana (Milbank) a girl or a woman?

[EllaMinnow]

Dana is a metrosexual.

[facedown]

[FairWitness]

Bruce Fein, who served in the Justice Department during the Reagan administration ---- said, ``customary legal rules require sequestration of witnesses in depositions and at trial to avoid tailoring the truth to avoid inconsistencies.''''

So is this a fact finding commision, or a "trial"? I really wish they would make that clear.

[prairiebreeze]

FROM THE ARTICLE:

Bush aides have offered a somewhat more detailed explanation. Officials said they see the session as a way to tie together the testimony of many other administration officials. They also said that while the commissioners are free to address any subject, they expect the panel to focus on the actions on Sept. 11, and that because the two were in separate locations, though in constant contact, presenting the narrative jointly would allow for a comprehensive chronology rather than two largely redundant accounts.

``On September 11, the president and vice president were in different locations when these horrific attacks took place, but they were in contact with each other throughout the day,'' said White House press secretary Scott McClellan. ``It makes sense, from that standpoint, to pull together as much as possible.''

And this:

The thinking of Bush aides, though, is that if the goal of the two men was to keep their stories straight, a joint appearance would not be required. Though the commission is not permitted to transcribe the session, the White House is free to do so, which means the second man to address the commission could read the answers the first man gave.

Clinton had Bruce Lindsey and Sandy Berger with him. So there were 3 RATS total when Clinturd met with the Circus of the Stars.

Prairie

[joebuck]

Bush insists on having his VP at such things, Clinton always insisted in having his civil and criminal attorneys....which makes you feel more comfortable?

[JLS]

Right the whole 9-11 Commission is unprecedented. The attacks of 9-11-2001 where unprecedented.

Unfortunately the whole Commission unprecedented in several bad ways. It is an unprecedented politicization of war and foreign policy. It is unprecedented in modern US government in ignoring such a blatant conflict of interest among its membership.

[optimistically_conservative]

See John Milton:

Start at "Don't get too cocky, my boy."

Stop at "They don't see me coming."

The liberal media press is the "beautiful girl".

[kabar]

Chairman Thomas Kean's requirement that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney appear together before his commission on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, quipped: ``Well, we recognize that Mr. Bush may help Mr. Cheney with some of the answers.''

Given the subject matter, Kean's remarks are totally uncalled for. He has said that the Commission would have preferred that they appear separately, but ridiculing the President in this manner deserves a public apology. The White House or a surrogate should call Mr. "It's none of your business" Kean on it.

[prairiebreeze]

White House requested the joint appearance, scheduled for April 29,

And that's another thing. Clinturd's appearrance before the Cirque de Soiled was the best kept secret on the planet until AFTER it had happened. Not one prior word in the media that I read or heard. Now, of course the press has 4 days to run amok with this.

Prairie

[Spotsy]

It is unprecedented for a sitting president to testify before a commission, with or without his vice president.

The media still haven't learned their lesson. Their audiences are not so dumb.

[Kay]

Excellent point!

[Heff]

There are many things that are unprecedented about Bush & Cheney...especially compared to the previous President and VP...things like character, integrity, honesty, honor, humility, leadership,...shall I go on?

[Brandon]

When my liberal friends ask why Bush is "afraid" to appear without Cheney, I turn it around, and ask them why the Commission members are afraid to face Bush and Cheney together. That usually shuts them up.

[MizSterious]

Stunning, isn't it? The media must have whiplash deciding which behavior they consider ethical. They have to do a 180 every time the political parties change.