Andrew Sullivan posted a hilarious exchange between Scott McLellan and reporter Terry Moran. I couldn’t believe it so I went to the White House and, sure enough, it happened:
McCLELLAN: Terry, you have a desperate group of terrorists in Iraq that are doing everything they can to try to derail the transition to democracy. The Iraqi people have made it clear that they want a free and democratic and peaceful future. And that’s why we’re doing everything we can, along with other countries, to support the Iraqi people as they move forward….
Q But the insurgency is in its last throes?
It goes on below:
McCLELLAN: The Vice President talked about that the other day — you have a desperate group of terrorists who recognize how high the stakes are in Iraq. A free Iraq will be a significant blow to their ambitions.
Q But they’re killing more Americans, they’re killing more Iraqis. That’s the last throes?
McCLELLAN: Innocent — I say innocent civilians. And it doesn’t take a lot of people to cause mass damage when you’re willing to strap a bomb onto yourself, get in a car and go and attack innocent civilians. That’s the kind of people that we’re dealing with. That’s what I say when we’re talking about a determined enemy.
Q Right. What is the evidence that the insurgency is in its last throes?
McCLELLAN: I think I just explained to you the desperation of terrorists and their tactics.
Q What’s the evidence on the ground that it’s being extinguished?
McCLELLAN: Terry, we’re making great progress to defeat the terrorist and regime elements. You’re seeing Iraqis now playing more of a role in addressing the security threats that they face. They’re working side by side with our coalition forces. They’re working on their own. There are a lot of special forces in Iraq that are taking the battle to the enemy in Iraq. And so this is a period when they are in a desperate mode.
Q Well, I’m just wondering what the metric is for measuring the defeat of the insurgency.
McCLELLAN: Well, you can go back and look at the Vice President’s remarks. I think he talked about it.
Q Yes. Is there any idea how long a ‘last throe’ lasts for?
McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Steve….
Susan, I watched the replay of this gaggle gathering last night on Cspan and laughed my ass off. Scottie is looking pretty peaved and frustrated. I wonder how he sleeps at night knowing he has to get up for yet another day of dodging, weaving and lying. I dream of the day he throws up his arms and just says I quit!! A gal can dream can’t she?
You almost have to feel sorry for the guy.
No, no, no! Do not feel sorry for him. He is doing this voluntarily, and in the process is helping a bunch of war criminals subvert the Constitution, kill thousands of civilians, and bankrupt this country. May he rot in hell along with the rest of them.
</rant>
That is all. Have a nice day. 😉
Yeah…I’m with you on that. These are truly interesting times. This is a test of true democracy. How long will the people allow this kind of blatant propaganda? At what point will people get pissed at the lies and distortions and hypocricy and war and sheesh, I could go on and on. This is truly the most corrupt government ever and I still think their house of cards will fall.
But, I have to say, I wouldn’t be in Scotty’s shoes for a million bucks.
I cannot muster up any sympathy for Scottie boy. He bought into the charade, played with the devil and now is paying for it dearly. The man has absolutely NO integrity. Sorry to sound so callus but that is where I am right now.
Here’s hoping that it gets a lot worse for him in the very near future ^_^ !
I feel utterly no sympathy for him. None. Zilch. Nada.
If anything, I feel the same horror, incomprehension and contempt that I feel watching the Mouth of Sauron speak on Sauron’s behalf, in Jackson’s <i>Return of the King </i>movie.
Only Sauron is a mythic being of vast power, essentially a major fallen angel, and the Mouth is a puppet whom Tolkein tells us no longer even remembers his own name.
DC Scottie is a shill, a willing shill. He’s sold his soul, but he’s done so willingly, and he’s staying and lying of his own free will.
here at my computer in so much pain I can not stand it and after reading this diary Susan has made it possible that I can laugh during this horrific pain…This is so funny…pathetic..but funny. They are now just talking to hear themselves talk..it’s like it doesn’t matter what even comes out of their mouths…they just talk..yap…yap….yap…..ohyeah..congrats Susanhu on getting Michael Jackson off the pedahook. ok…the pain is back….
I’m sorry you’re in such pain! But am glad you laughed — I just howled as I read it. The press corps (the ones that aren’t Barbie and Ken) must have had to cover their mouths so as not to be shown smirking.
Since his reality is so disconnected from the one we all share, and evidently the ones the reporters are moving into…
I think the white house press corp should just resign themselves to ending every question with a final follow up:
The man lies for a living. And he knows it. And he knows we know it. But he’s no longer enjoying it. Maybe he should reflect on why that is…
I can answer that question.
A throe lasts much less time than a debacle but far longer than an incident.
An incident would be, for example, stubbing your toe.
A throe would be, oh, the final hours of death or childbirth (both traumatic events, I’m sure you’ll agree).
A debacle would be, oh, the government of the United States from 20 January 2001 to the present…
I saw this yesterday too….
This is my absolute favorite:
“Q Yes. Is there any idea how long a ‘last throe’ lasts for?”
He should keep asking that question every time he gets a chance!
I did laugh and laugh reading this, and I wish I could have seen the video. But the very best thing about this exchange is not the amusement it’s given us all, but the fact that Terry not only asked the question to begin with, but asked it again 7 times (including paraphrases).
I take this as evidence that the White House Press Corps is starting to remember what they’re paid to do, and are starting to act like the predatory creatures reporters are meant to be. There’s blood in the water……
and polls showing people are fed up so now the gaggle is following which way the wind is blowing. Hey, as long as they are asking and persisting with follow up I don’t care. It is high time these so called journalists started harrassing Scottie Boy. Who will be the next Gannon and what ever happened to him anyway?
ha ha..so did little Scottie say this before or after Rummy had just stated that the troops were ‘statistically’ no safer than when we first invaded? Ah yes those end of timers who are in the last throes are turning the corner and ah ah will continue to kill more and more people thus proving we are winning big time, right?
How can the public be so brain dead as to buy that fucked up and insanely stupid theory any way…?
I’m thinking I’m going to ‘throes’ up here. Being fed garbage tends to make me do that.