Will Bush Do the Honorable Thing & Fire Himself?

Bush Fires Himself: A Collection of Quotes
by Delaware Dem
Fri Apr 07, 2006 at 05:15:44 AM PDT

According to the news this morning, it would appear that while it has never been done before in all American history, and while all national security experts say it is grossly negligent and reckless not to follow the normal procedures that we always go through when declassifying info and docs to make sure that we are not endangering lives and national security, it would appear that the President did not break the law in this instance. He can be declassify whatever he wants whenever he wants, it would seem.

But this incident does further reveal him to be a liar.

* Delaware Dem's diary :: ::
*

Remember this:

Asked in June 2004 if he'd stand by his pledge to fire anyone found to have leaked, Bush replied "yes." [Bush Press Conference: Savannah, GA, 6/10/04]

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"I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action." [Bush Remarks: Chicago, Illinois, 9/30/03]

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"The President has set high standards, the highest of standards for people in his administration. He's made it very clear to people in his administration that he expects them to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. If anyone in this administration was involved in it, they would no longer be in this administration." [White House Briefing, 9/29/03]

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"I will swear to uphold the laws of the land. But I will also swear to uphold the honor and the integrity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God," said then-Governor George Bush [CNN, "Inside Politics," 8/11/00]

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"Americans are tired of investigations and scandal, and the best way to get rid of them is to elect a new president who will bring a new administration, who will restore honor and dignity to the White House." [Then-Governor George Bush on CNN's "Burden of Proof," 9/15/00]

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"Americans want to be assured that the next administration will bring honor and dignity to the White House." [Then-Governor George Bush on CNN's "Capital Gang," 8/13/00]

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"Please thank the personnel of your departments and agencies for their commitment to maintain the highest standards of integrity in Government as we serve the American people." [Memo from President Bush to Executive Officials, 1/20/01]

President Bush on Oct. 7, 2003:

Q. Mr. President, beyond the actual leak of classified information, there are reports that someone in the administration was trying to - after it was already out - actively spread the story, even calling Ambassador Wilson's wife "fair game." Are you asking your staff is anyone did that? And would it be wrong or even a fire-able offense if that happened?

A. Well, the investigators will ask our staff about what people did or did not do. This is a town of - where a lot of people leak. And I've constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks, particularly leaks of classified information. And I want to know, I want to know the truth. I want to see to it that the truth prevail. And I hope we can get this investigation done in a thorough way, as quickly as possible.

But the Justice Department will conduct this investigation. The professionals in the Justice Department will be involved in ferreting out the truth. These are citizens who will - were here before this administration arrived and will be here after this administration leaves. And they'll come to the bottom of this, and we'll find out the truth. And that will be - that's a good thing for this administration.

Q. Mr. President, how confident are you the investigation will find the leaker in the C.I.A. case? And what do you make of Sharon's comment that Israel will strike its enemies at any place, any time?

A. This is the dual question. (Laughter.) I'm trying to figure out if I want to answer either of them, since you violated a major rule. (Laughter.) At least it's not a cell phone. (Laughter.)

Randy, you tell me, how many sources have you had that's leaked information that you've exposed or have been exposed? Probably none. I mean this town is a - is a town full of people who like to leak information. And I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration official. Now, this is a large administration, and there's a lot of senior officials. I don't have any idea. I'd like to. I want to know the truth. That's why I've instructed this staff of mine to cooperate fully with the investigators - full disclosure, everything we know the investigators will find out. I have no idea whether we'll find out who the leaker is - partially because, in all due respect to your profession, you do a very good job of protecting the leakers. But we'll find out.

President Bush on Sept. 30, 2003, talking with reporters after meeting with business people at University of Chicago.

Q. Do you think that the Justice Department can conduct an impartial investigation, considering the political ramifications of the C.I.A. leak, and why wouldn't a special counsel be better?

A. Yes. Let me just say something about leaks in Washington. There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. There's leaks at the executive branch; there's leaks in the legislative branch. There's just too many leaks. And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of.

And so I welcome the investigation. I - I'm absolutely confident that the Justice Department will do a very good job. There's a special division of career Justice Department officials who are tasked with doing this kind of work; they have done this kind of work before in Washington this year. I have told our administration, people in my administration to be fully cooperative.

I want to know the truth. If anybody has got any information inside our administration or outside our administration, it would be helpful if they came forward with the information so we can find out whether or not these allegations are true and get on about the business.

Q. Have you talked to Karl and do you have confidence in him ...

A. Listen, I know of nobody - I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action. And this investigation is a good thing.

And again I repeat, you know, Washington is a town where there's all kinds of allegations. You've heard much of the allegations. And if people have got solid information, please come forward with it. And that would be people inside the information who are the so-called anonymous sources, or people outside the information - outside the administration. And we can clarify this thing very quickly if people who have got solid evidence would come forward and speak out. And I would hope they would.

And then we'll get to the bottom of this and move on. But I want to tell you something - leaks of classified information are a bad thing. And we've had them - there's too much leaking in Washington. That's just the way it is. And we've had leaks out of the administrative branch, had leaks out of the legislative branch, and out of the executive branch and the legislative branch, and I've spoken out consistently against them and I want to know who the leakers are.

President Bush on June 10, 2004, at news conference after G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Ga.

Q. Given recent developments in the C.I.A. leak case, particularly Vice President Cheney's discussions with the investigators, do you still stand by what you said several months ago, suggestion that it might difficult to identify anybody who leaked the agent's name? And ...

A. That's up ...

Q. And do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to have done so? And ...

A. Yes.

Q. And finally ...

A. And that's up to the U.S. attorney - to find the facts.

Q. My final point would be - or question would be, has Vice President Cheney assured you, subsequent to his conversations with them, that nobody in his office had anything ...

A. I haven't talked to the vice president about this matter, and I suggest - recently, and I suggest you - you talk to the U.S. attorney about that.

If Bush is any kind of man, if he is a man of his word, if he is an honest man, he will fire himself today by offering his resignation, as he promised to do. If he does not, then he is scum, a liar, a weisel, more slick than Willie ever was, who has besmearched and tainted the White House with lies, deceit and untruth, all to cover his lily white ass.

Tags: George W. Bush, CIA Leak (all tags)