WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING - ARI SAYS "DEMS KNEW ABOUT SHADOW GOVERN."

cable news stations ^ | 3/5/02 | me

[Elkiejg]

I just caught part of the WH briefing with Ari (before cable stations cut away for the Pentagon briefing). The media was peppering him about Dems saying they didn't know about shadow gov. arrangements. HE SHOT THEM DOWN.....kept claiming in his soft spoken way "We're confident that when they talk with people on the Hill, they will see that the info. was previously submitted to them" - I'm paraphrasing.

He also got a great shot in to old Helen Thomas when he replied to her that the shadow gov. situation had been around since the cold war years - which he was sure she remembered!! I laughed out loud.

The stupid press kept hammering - "Daschle, Byrd, etc. say they don't know anything about it" -- Ari would reply with his "I'm sure when they talk to people, etc., etc." It was great - sorry they cut away for the Pentagon.

Does anyone know if transcripts are put out on these briefings? It would be worth reading.

[Miss Marple]

No, he wasn't timid, unless you equate screaming and shouting with bravery.

He was calm and straightforward...and he holds the aces, as Dog said.

[Elkiejg]

I agree Dog - Ari definetly looks like someone with a royal flush!!

[CPT Clay]

I saw Jim Angle of FOX ask a q about Pickering but missed the answer does anyone remember?

[anniegetyourgun]

What did he say about Pickering?

[america-rules]

Here's the proof !

[YaYa123]

"Shadow Government" = Definitely a sinister ring to it!!

That's why democrats jumped on it so quickly!

[PhiKapMom]

Everytime Helen Thomas opens her mouth, I want to throw something at the TV. Her contempt for Ari and this Administration is the worst I have seen from the WH Press Corps and they are all pretty bad to begin with!

They never listen to what Ari is saying and instead they act arrogant and pomposs when interviewing Ari. These press conferences should be shown in prime time so the American people can see the number of rude people that inhabit the White House Press Corps offices.

[anniegetyourgun]

What were you saying about secrets being kept by this administration?

[counterrevolutionary]

Don't you get it, man? They used the term "shadow government" so that it could be shot down and ridiculed, drawing attention away from the real Shadow Government.

[america-rules]

Here's the proof !

Brit Hume of Fox smoked out two articles from way back in Oct 2001 ! Can someone post the articles?

[colorado tanker]

Have the Dims and their media buddies completely lost it?? Our troops are engaged in a ground battle with our toughest enemy and they're arguing about whether Little Tommy knew about the bunker, which is in Byrd's West Virginia, for crissake. They sound like 12 year olds complaining they want to move up from the kid's card table to the adults' dining room table for dinner. Do they realize how stupid and irrelevent they appear to normal, non-Beltway Americans?? Do they have a death wish?

[anniegetyourgun]

Can't you see it's a massive government conspiracy, or have they gotten to you too?

[anniegetyourgun]

This while REAL men are dying....

[YaYa123]

Here's your fine proof, from Brit Hume:

"Democratic leaders, led by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, are complaining that they were kept in the dark about the so-called "shadow government," which Daschle has now taken to calling the secret government. Daschle says not a single member of Congress was aware of it, but the Cleveland Plain Dealer had the story back in October, when it reported on a "continuity of operations plan" for a possible catastrophic attack. The story spoke of "sequestering as many as 200 employees from different branches of the federal government since 9/11." And US News reported the story on Oct. 29 as well. "

[Wphile]

Ari said that GW will be meeting with Pickering tomorrow at the White House and that GW believes he should be confirmed. Ari then went on to read a quote from Joe Biden, from 1997, wherein Biden pontificates about the role of the Judiciary committee. Essentially, Biden said that the Judiciary committee's role was merely to ADVISE the Senate on the nominee. It is the role of the Senate, as a whole, to vote a nominee up or down. He further went on to say, Biden that is, that every nominee deserves a full Senate floor vote.

It was GREAT!!! Take that little tommy, you dip.

[Attillathehon]

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. The Shadow Government knows."

[ShandaLear]

Tommy Dash-hole, "It all depends on what the meaning of Shadow Government is."

[A Citizen Reporter]

The White House press corps was WAY too concerned about the health and welfare of congress, you can't expect them to find any fault can you? /sarcasm.

I DO believe this was a more orchestrated attack though. I'd bet money that the term "Shadow Government" could be found in a talking points fax originating from a "machine" in NY.

[plain talk]

I was let down too. One possibility is Ari doesn't want to get into details because of security procedures etc Another possibility is that our Republicans representative up there are just gutless. Not sure which one it is.

[CaliforniaOkie]

Ari also said something to the effect that now the "Shadow government" location has turned into a tourist attraction. Paraphrasing.