I know you are, but what am I?
Witness the infantile playground taunting relationship that McClellan and the White House Press Corp have devolved.
MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, see, this is where some people want to look at the blame game issue, and finger-point. We’re focused on solving problems, and we’re doing everything we can —
Q What about the question?
MR. McCLELLAN: We’re doing everything we can in support —
Q We know all that.
MR. McCLELLAN: — of the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.
Q Does he retain complete confidence —
MR. McCLELLAN: We’re going to continue. We appreciate the great effort that all of those at FEMA, including the head of FEMA, are doing to help the people in the region. And I’m just not going to engage in the blame game or finger-pointing that you’re trying to get me to engage.
Q Okay, but that’s not at all what I was asking.
MR. McCLELLAN: Sure it is. It’s exactly what you’re trying to play.
Q You have your same point you want to make about the blame game, which you’ve said enough now. I’m asking you a direct question, which you’re dodging.
MR. McCLELLAN: No —
Q Does the President retain complete confidence in his Director of FEMA and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?
MR. McCLELLAN: I just answered the question.
Q Is the answer “yes” on both?
MR. McCLELLAN: And what you’re doing is trying to engage in a game of finger-pointing.
Q There’s a lot of criticism. I’m just wondering if he still has confidence.
MR. McCLELLAN: — and blame-gaming. What we’re trying to do is solve problems, David. And that’s where we’re going to keep our focus.
Q So you’re not — you won’t answer that question directly?
MR. McCLELLAN: I did. I just did.
Q No, you didn’t. Yes or no? Does he have complete confidence or doesn’t he?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, if you want to continue to engage in finger-pointing and blame-gaming, that’s fine —
Q Scott, that’s ridiculous. I’m not engaging in any of that.
MR. McCLELLAN: It’s not ridiculous.
Q Don’t try to accuse me of that. I’m asking you a direct question and you should answer it. Does he retain complete confidence in his FEMA Director and Secretary of Homeland Security, yes or no?
MR. McCLELLAN: Like I said — that’s exactly what you’re engaging in.
Q I’m not engaging in anything. I’m asking you a question about what the President’s views are —
MR. McCLELLAN: Absolutely — absolutely —
Q — under pretty substantial criticism of members of his administration. Okay? And you know that, and everybody watching knows that, as well.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, everybody watching this knows, David, that you’re trying to engage in a blame game.
Q I’m trying to engage?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q I am trying to engage?
MR. McCLELLAN: That’s correct.
Q That’s a dodge…
Q Scott, without lookin down what color socks do you have on?
MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, see, this is where some people want to look at the blame game issue, and finger-point. We’re focused on solving problems, and we’re doing everything we can —
no belly laugh, but thanks for at least the first chuckle of the day.
I could use a few today.
I love it… it’s like the jerry springer show without steve… And the flying chairs.
The only thing that could make these press briefings any more interesting would be if they did them while sky diving. Now that would be cool.
Especially if they weren’t wearing parachutes.
Fatty, fatty two-by-four, can’t get through the white house door.
Oh, yeah? Well you’re a poopy head.
Think that the purpose of the President’s Press Secretary is, after reading this exchange of questions and answers? Not to mention, every press conference this man has given since being appointed.
Can any honest person look at this and say he is trying to provide information to the press? No. Not really.
Even wing-nuts must read this, and understand that they are lying to themselves if they want to characterize what Scott McClellan’s efforts are as providing information.
He is a minister of propaganda. I suppose most press secretaries are. But, he is so poor at it, it makes the propaganda stink like the shit on the streets of New Orleans. I am so sick of fucking propaganda. Not since our friend Adolph (and I don’t mean this as hyperbole) has there been a government so intent on feeding us propaganda as a daily dietary supplment. Fuck him. And every wing-nut or moderate Republican who won’t look at this refusal to answer simple questions about accountability, and call bullshit. I guess they want power that bad. It must hurt to be them, wothless custodians of the reaking democracy this is becoming.
Man there’s a lot of good qoutes today….
MR. McCLELLAN: A lot of the media reports that were coming out Monday, Monday night, Tuesday morning were expressing that it had missed the massive flooding that some had projected in a worst-case scenario.
Q The President of the United States was getting his information about this major disaster from the media?
MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, I’m just pointing out — because you’re trying to point out some things and I’m trying to point out, back to that time, if you’ll recall, and just put that in perspective. The President was getting regular updates from people in the region and from people here in Washington, D.C.
the press just stayed home, went golfing, or anything but show up at the white house. Not likely I suppose.
“Infantile” about covers it. Might as well hand out pacifiers along with the credentials.
You can’t exactly call this “reporting” or “journalism”, maybe it’s the “Three Stooges” — only just change the name to however many are in the room on a given day.
…these guys are so clever at getting their themes into the media. It’s stupid, it’s a lie, but it resonates.
The “blame game” is just another in a string of Dem-trashing GOP soundbites dating back to Ronald Reagan’s first term. Why-oh-why can’t we come up with stuff as effective and effectively distracting as they do?
Whenever we hear “blame game” we need to stop, look them dead in in the eye and say, “No. This is a murder investigation. It stopped being a blame game the moment the first person died.”
Make them embarassed for their georgie porgie rhymes.
Sandblaster, that is just f#$%ing brilliant!
It immediately takes the mental images of any listeners away from a three stooges pie fight scene and turns them into the opening scenes of a CSI episode: Oh my, party’s over at the disco/S&M club/people in animal costumes convention. The cops have arrived to catch the “evildoers…”
Because people like Hillary Clinton are more interested in terminating Democrats that can do things like that than in winning.
While Democrats may be the party of freedom, the Clinton faction wants them to be the party of privilege.
Why-oh-why can’t we come up with stuff as effective and effectively distracting as they do?
umm…because we actually have morals? and a conscience?
just a guess…
weather vain preordain rain came
lamebrain abstained maintained mundane entertain
war-game
levees strain broken drain water gain unchained flood came
human pain devil’s domain slain remains remain remain profane bloodstain
suzerain disdain inane explain complain refrain inhumane
tearstain feign nervous strain
mortmain floodplain? oil stain financial gain
constrain disdain
campaign reframe blame game?
proclaim shame
Is that like the Name Game?
Bush sure ain’t no Lincoln.
And don’t call me Shirley!
(Sorry, must be the stress getting to me – or the alcohol?)
My apologies to those under 40 who have no idea what the hell the blocked text is about…
I’ve got kids, I know what it is and it’s hilarious!
Thanks for the laugh!
Yes, I heard “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain” last night, and then the rhyming words starting running through my head for hours.
Scottie’s melllting…
wow….he’s losing it…he couldn’t even take control and move on…I told you guys he’s an automoton…blame game…progress…blame game…playing game…game playing…blaming…I’m mellllting…
Reading that transcript was like a flashback to press conferences during Watergate – some strange kind of American political kabuki, or the dance of the circling, howling wolves around their doomed, bloodied, yet still snarling prey. The administration is losing it and they know it. They can see it slipping through their fingers…
The next levee to break will be the one that keeps administration minions from leaking, as they try to save their skins by throwing each other overboard first to feed the sharks. Ah, such pretty, pretty sharks…
Schadenfreude, anyone? 2005 might be a vintage year before it’s all over…
And I am thoroughly disgusted with the lot of them.
John Amato has “breaking news” that..“Bush is very proud of the way his administration used patience, dedication and hard work to help those in need during the storm”. <snark alert>
Peace