August 13, 2004

It Depends on What the Meaning of "Cooperate" Is

From Joshua Micah Marshall:

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: August 08, 2004 - August 14, 2004 Archives: Steady leadership in times of change ...

I have told my staff, I want full cooperation with the Justice Department.

-- George W. Bush, 10/06/03

In January, Justice Department investigators asked White House staff members to sign a waiver requesting "that no member of the news media assert any privilege or refuse to answer any questions from federal law enforcement authorities on my behalf or for my benefit." But in February the Washington Post reported, "Most officials declined to sign the form on the advice of their attorneys."

-- Salon, 8/13/04

No wonder he can't get our allies to do anything he wants them to do."
Posted by DeLong at August 13, 2004 09:44 PM | TrackBack | | Other weblogs commenting on this post
Comments

How hard would it be to give each senior member of the administration an envelope containing two documents, a waiver and a resignation, and the instruction, "Sign one or the other".

Posted by: John Casey on August 14, 2004 09:53 AM

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In August, with the election in November?

Mass resignations would look very bad.

Guys who leaked anti-Bush stuff before would have a tremendous incentive to keep Bush out of the White House next year. He would be gunning for them whatever they did.

Guys who leaked stuff *for* Bush would feel betrayed. The Plame thing might possibly result in serious charges.

Could it be a ploy? It shows Bush acting to support the Plame investigation etc, without actually accomplishing much. And the ones who did sign showed they have nothing to hide.

Posted by: J Thomas on August 16, 2004 06:04 AM

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