Bush's 9/11 panel meeting was useful -- MUST READ - Sen Bob Kerrey and Gorelick!

The Oklahoman (best editorial pages in the Country) ^ | May 1, 2004 | The Oklahoman Editorial

[PhiKapMom]

Bush's 9/11 panel meeting was useful
2004-05-01
Oklahoman Editorial

For all the buildup to President Bush's and Vice President Cheney's interview by the 9/11 commission, Thursday's Oval Office session evidently was mostly anticlimactic.

Commission Chairman Thomas Kean said the 31/2-hour meeting produced information the panel didn't have previously, but no surprises.

Other members characterized the session as cordial and productive. "The president was very forthcoming and answered all of our questions," said Commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste. "I don't think we have the need to ask any further questions of the president."

Two even left before it was over. Former Sen. Bob Kerrey took leave of the leader of the free world to meet someone on Capitol Hill. It's better than saying you need to go home to wash your hair, but not much. So much for the concern that Bush wouldn't give the commission enough time.

Still, the president emerged from the meeting chipper and optimistic. He told a gaggle of reporters in the Rose Garden that he and the vice president answered every question. Participants said Bush, not Cheney, did most of the talking in response to questions, upsetting the myth that Bush needed Cheney as a crutch to get through the interview.

Bush said he expects the commission will make a valuable contribution to future administrations. This is a kind assessment. We suspect Bush's initial doubts about commissioning the inquiry haven't been allayed by the panel's obvious dysfunctions.

Some members have turned the public hearings into grandstands for political drum-beating. Others have done too much talking to the press, publicly announcing their conclusions even though the committee's final report isn't due until late July.

Finally, Commissioner Jamie Gorelick, as a member of the Clinton administration, was so intimately involved in forming the U.S. government's pre-9/11 attitude toward terrorism that she should've been one of the panel's public, under-oath witnesses instead of hectoring others about what they did and didn't do to prevent the attacks.

We will hope for pleasant surprises in the commission's findings -- substance, insight and real prescriptions for changes in the way intelligence is gathered, analyzed and distributed -- that will make it very hard for another 9/11 to occur.

[PhiKapMom]

Wanted to share this editorial with all of you!

[PhiKapMom]

FYI! Looks like Bob Kerrey who had a lot to say about the President not allowing enough time left early! Would guess from the comments since the President talked to the commission that the President hit a home run!

[samtheman]

We will hope for pleasant surprises in the commission's findings -- substance, insight and real prescriptions for changes in the way intelligence is gathered, analyzed and distributed -- that will make it very hard for another 9/11 to occur.

What a good laugh line. What great sarcasm. A very subtle wit.

[annyokie]

Thanks, Mom!

[Miss Marple]

I especially like the fact that all commission members were frisked and their notebooks confiscated (to check for any security breeches) before they left. Notebooks will be returned after they are checked.

HAHAHA!

[Peach]

Thanks for posting this.

People are "getting it".

[deport]

Participants said Bush, not Cheney, did most of the talking in response to questions, upsetting the myth that Bush needed Cheney as a crutch to get through the interview.

---

But they never seem to learn that the President does think on his own..... They would have you believe that he can't tie his shoes without someone else such as Rove, Cheney, etc.

[MEG33]

On Kerrey's date with Domenici "It's better than saying you had to go home to wash your hair,but not much"...Indeed.

[Aeronaut]

Thanks for the ping PKMom.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[blackie]

GWB Is The Man and he hits another home run!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Helms]

[PhiKapMom]

I loved the last paragraph myself. They have about as much confidence as I do in the 9-ll Commision -- which is like zero, zip, nada!

[PhiKapMom]

Have laughed about that too! There was so much written and the Commission ran their mouths about the Bush-Cheney visit with the 9-ll Commission that the silence has been defeaning from the national media. Tells me that the President was in charge during the entire time -- even the RATs are saying very little and Kerrey leaving early -- made me burst out laughing!

[PhiKapMom]

It was sure nice to open the paper and read this editorial this morning. I read the front page and then go right to the editorial page everyday.

[Peach]

What unbelievable gall for Hamilton and Kerrey to leave early. Really - they have shown just what as*es they are to one and all.

Loved the sentence in this editorial that their reasons for leaving early were marginally better than having to wash one's hair. LOL

[dufekin]

I have to agree with you. The Oklahoman has some of the best editorials in the country. Perhaps they should syndicate, say, to The New York Times. It would help make that paper somewhat more "fair and balanced."

[kittymyrib]

You are most blessed to have the Daily Oklahoman to read in the morning instead of the pathetic Houston Comical. When we visit in OKC, that's something I always look forward to.

[Caipirabob]

Great post. While the expectations aren't really there, the public pressure and absolute solemn obligation for the 9/11 commission to produce a valuable and immediately implementable recommendations to secure this nation against possible future terrorism will be extremely high. I suspect there may be more than one member of this commission who is losing sleep over the potential self-destruction of their political career over their on-the-record behavior and performance on this commission. That includes the Republicans (read: RINOs) involved, too.

[Judith Anne]

Great editorial, thanks! Didn't President Bush meet with the commission in the oval office? No opportunity for secret taping and creative splicing by any stray technicians friendly to the odd partisan commissioner, there.

;-D