WALK OUT: 9/11 COMMISSIONERS BOB KERREY AND LEE HAMILTON LEAVE IN MIDDLE OF BUSH/CHENEY TESTIMONY

The Drudge Report ^ | Thu Apr 29 2004 18:24:41 ET | Drudge

[Defender2]

9/11 commision(not capitolised on purpose) = demoCommiecRAT dog and pony show.

[panaxanax]

"We should let these idiots make demands on the President of the United States and he should jump when they ask."

Wouldn't it had been great for President Bush to utilize his powers and say "You guys wanted me to appear here to answer some of your questions, I'm here, now sit down, shut up and listen"

[OXENinFLA]

DRUDGE ON C-SPAN NOW.

[texasflower]

No kidding. The early departure of Kerrey and Hamilton was completely out of line.

The dems seem to be just sort of bumbling their way through this entire election season.

I find it hard to believe they are being so collectively stupid.

It's a very entertaining show for us though.!

[texasflower]

Wouldn't it had been great for President Bush to utilize his powers and say "You guys wanted me to appear here to answer some of your questions, I'm here, now sit down, shut up and listen"

Oh my gosh, yes it would have been wonderful!

[Unicorn]

You better have more coffee.

[lonestar]

It would seem Kerrey and Hamilton owe an apology to the families of the 9/11 victims who cheered Richard Clarke.

[guitfiddlist]

Meanwhile, Kean must have been looking furtively around the room, hoping that Hillary might have stashed her lockbox somewhere in the Oval office, before leaving the White House.

[norton]

"Kerrey explained to reporters: "Yeah, it's a little awkward to leave early. But the president certainly understood what we were doing.".... Hamilton left Bush/Cheney 70 minutes early to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister."

Yes Bob, I'm certain that the President 'understands'.

It's pretty clear to the rest of us as well.

[Just mythoughts]

"....hoping that Hillary might have stashed her lockbox somewhere in the Oval office, before leaving the White House."


I doubt that the woman on his mind was "Hillry", more likely "Monica"!!!!!!

[R. Scott]

It shows that the Commission is pure politics. The question of “What did the President know and when did he know it” was pure political eye wash.

[Toespi]

This was nothing more than an "eff you" to Bush and Cheney. They still consider him an illegitimate President and will take every opportunity to publically disrespect this administration.

[MeekOneGOP]

Rush was discussing this yesterday. He said something to the effect of something coming up in the meeting that these two may have wanted to be the first to 'leak' to the media and to see what the lamestream Alphabet News Channels say about this meeting and regarding 'leaks' (means source that doesn't want to be revealed) ....

I missed the Alphabet News ABCNNB SeeBS/PMSNB See BS.
Of course, I ALWAYS do, though.

[bondjamesbond]

This walkout is a gift from the partisan Democrats on the Commission. The story is now about the walkout, and Bush and Cheney get to appear statesmanlike. The Administration could not ask for any better result.

I am sure that when Hamilton and Kerrey said they had to leave early, the White House was very understanding and had no problem with that at all...

Strategery!

[bondjamesbond]

Also no swearing in....no recording devices....no stenographer....no one on one....no on the record....and not one single viable explanation as to why GW/Cheney had to meet together....

When an individual is put under oath and questioned in a court of law, he is there because he is compelled to be there. Congress cannot compel the President to do anything. He is testifying as a courtesy, representing a co-equal branch of the government, in the spirit of trying to get to the bottom of things.

To give a micro-level example, say my neighbor wants to meet with me to discuss the condition of our shared fenceline. I will gladly meet him at a mutually convenient time and we will have a useful exchange that results in the fenceline being maintained. However if he serves me with a subpeona and drags me into court, we're going to go at it hammer and tongs.

[steveegg]

I'd bet most anything that if the TV cameras were running, a team of wild horses couldn't drag those creeps out of that room.

Actually, Kerrey would still have left so that his diva moment would be immortalized on film (the ONLY reason those two left was to show the DemonRAT institutionalized disrespect for President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and the offices of President and Vice President).

[steveegg]

> "Kerrey explained to reporters: "Yeah, it's a little awkward to leave
> early. But the president certainly understood what we were doing."....
> Hamilton left Bush/Cheney 70 minutes early to meet with the
> Canadian Prime Minister."

Yes Bob, I'm certain that the President 'understands'.

The fact that we're discussing this intentional slight by Kerrey and Hamilton shows that President Bush understands, but they don't understand, the concept of strategery.

[steveegg]

I am sure that when Hamilton and Kerrey said they had to leave early, the White House was very understanding and had no problem with that at all...

Strategery!

Strategery rule #4 - When your enemies are asking for rope in order to hang themselves, give them pre-cut, pre-tied nooses, and offer them your stepladder.

[firewalk]

The Oval Office session began at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 12:40 p.m., but two Democrat commission members -- Lee Hamilton, the vice chairman, and Bob Kerrey -- walked out before it was over!

The stunning walk out -- after Democrats had complained that Bush was not alloting enough time for questions --

Bttt

[Right Wing Professor]

Sent to the Lincoln Journal Star (Kerrey's home town paper while he was governor)

In declining to testify publicly before the 9/11 commission, President Bush has clearly undermined its effectiveness. The President should have known that, deprived of the opportunity to posture before the TV cameras, Democratic commission members Bob Kerrey and Lee Hamilton could not be expected to show up for the full allotted time. Mr. Kerrey, unable to grandstand, found more important work to do grubbing for federal pork. This is all Mr. Bush's fault, and I hope voters remember in November.

Sent to Don Walton, Journal-Star columnist, who published a puff-piece interview with Kerrey.

Don't you think a balanced article about Kerrey's views on the Bush testimony would have mentioned that Kerrey ducked out after 2 hours, in order to try to line up some federal pork for his university? In fact, you write that 'Kerrey said he didn't detect any tension between the president and vice president and the 10 members of the commission during the three-hour discussion in the Oval Office.' Kerrey wasn't there for three hours; how would he know? Isn't your statement factually incorrect?

As for the 'increasing partisan attacks on the commission' (no bias there!) the Republican criticism has been directed primarily at one member of the Commission, for the simple reason that she instituted some of the policies that made it harder to coordinate intelligence information, and therefore is in the position of a fox examining the security of the chicken coop.