Bush Surviving Due to Apathy
Kate Grelle
Issue date: 4/11/06 Section: Opinions
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During a Press Conference in September 2003, President Bush was asked to remark on the ongoing Valerie Plame/CIA Leak investigation. His response?
"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 … But I want to tell you something -- leaks of classified information are a bad thing. 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."
So then, if leaks are "bad," and the investigation is "good," how would the president characterize the recent revelation of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby? According to Libby's testimony before the grand jury in the case, he was told to leak classified information to the press by Vice President Cheney who was acting on the orders of the president.
According to a lawyer quoted in the Washington Post on Friday, "Bush merely instructed Cheney to 'get [the classified information] out' and left the details to him." Merely?
Rep. Jane Harman of California was far more candid in her assessment of the situation: "If the disclosure is true, it's breathtaking. The president is revealed as the leaker-in-chief."
If proven to be true, Libby's testimony could have earth shattering implications. Sadly, those implications may still culminate in … nothing. Perhaps a slap on the wrist, a "shame on you, Mr. president;" beyond that, the president has little cause for concern. The Legislature is not likely to pull the reins in on him -- one need only look at the dismal failure of Senator Feingold's attempt to censure him recently. Feingold's efforts succeeded only in his own ostracism. While senators on both sides of the aisle have been quick to criticize the president, they are shamefully silent when called to take action.
"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 … But I want to tell you something -- leaks of classified information are a bad thing. 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."
So then, if leaks are "bad," and the investigation is "good," how would the president characterize the recent revelation of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby? According to Libby's testimony before the grand jury in the case, he was told to leak classified information to the press by Vice President Cheney who was acting on the orders of the president.
According to a lawyer quoted in the Washington Post on Friday, "Bush merely instructed Cheney to 'get [the classified information] out' and left the details to him." Merely?
Rep. Jane Harman of California was far more candid in her assessment of the situation: "If the disclosure is true, it's breathtaking. The president is revealed as the leaker-in-chief."
If proven to be true, Libby's testimony could have earth shattering implications. Sadly, those implications may still culminate in … nothing. Perhaps a slap on the wrist, a "shame on you, Mr. president;" beyond that, the president has little cause for concern. The Legislature is not likely to pull the reins in on him -- one need only look at the dismal failure of Senator Feingold's attempt to censure him recently. Feingold's efforts succeeded only in his own ostracism. While senators on both sides of the aisle have been quick to criticize the president, they are shamefully silent when called to take action.
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