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September 20, 2006
My Lord! Bush Met with People!!!
If this is not the most hysterical story about nothing I've ever read...the Washington Post and DNC allies are blowing the trumpet that powerful Republicans actually met with a Republican president.
Republican activists Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed landed more than 100 meetings inside the Bush White House, according to documents released Wednesday that provide the first official accounting of the access and influence the two presidential allies have enjoyed.
The White House released the Secret Service visit records to settle a lawsuit by the Democratic Party and an ethics watchdog group seeking visitors logs for the two GOP strategists and others who emerged as figures in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.
Earlier this month, the White House suggested to the judge in that lawsuit that such records need not be disclosed because the information was privileged and might reveal how Bush and his staff get private advice, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press.
White House officials said Norquist, who runs the nonprofit Americans for Tax Reform, was cleared for 97 visits to the White House complex between 2001 and 2006, including a half-dozen with the president.
Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition and an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in Georgia earlier this year, got 18 meetings, including two events with Bush.
Officials said they believe all appointments with Bush involved larger group settings, such as Christmas parties or policy briefings for GOP supporters.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, however, it was possible some of Norquist's meetings might have been directly with Karl Rove, the president's longtime confidant and political strategist.
"He is one of a number of individuals who worked to advance fiscal responsibility, which is one of the key aspects of the president's agenda," Perino said.
IMPEACH!
Call me crazy, but didn't Clinton RENT OUT the Lincoln bedroom to celebrities for donations to re-election?
I read that whole article and found NOTHING in it that demonstrates any wrong-doing by the White House. Can you?
Posted by Aaron at September 20, 2006 08:47 PM
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Comments
He's running a successful presidency, that alone drives them BONKERS!!!
Posted by: Charles at September 20, 2006 11:05 PM
Do as I do. Do as I say. Say as I do. Don't do as I do-do. Come on, Libs, either doo-doo or not doo-doo. Cripes , I think I'll just vote Republican.
Posted by: Skul at September 20, 2006 11:39 PM
Generally speaking, the President of the United States meets with PEOPLE. People of all kinds, political inclinations, gender, religions, ethnicity and so forth. That's his JOB for heaven's sakes!
What is remarkable is that anyone thought that this article was worth writing! It wasn't. It's silly and juvenile.
Posted by: Gayle Miller at September 21, 2006 10:31 AM
"the White House suggested to the judge in that lawsuit that such records need not be disclosed because the information was privileged and might reveal how Bush and his staff get private advice"
Heaven forbid that we know who gives the president advice. How dare they ask for that. Do they think this is a constitutional republic?
Posted by: paul at September 21, 2006 11:45 AM
the guest log could show travel patters for the president and other public figures...which could be used by people who want to harm them.
Plus, really, it's none of the Democrats' business.
I don't care who Clinton had in his home while at the White House...I just didn't want him using it as a Super 8 for hollywood celebrities.
Posted by: Aaron at September 21, 2006 12:28 PM
"Heaven forbid that we know who gives the president advice. How dare they ask for that. Do They think this is a constitutional republic?"
paul, that's dumb even for you. It's called Executive Privilege, and it dates back to Washington. People will not speak freely to the President, any President, if they fear getting hauled in front of some committee. Every single President has the right to invoke confidentiality. Sheesh.
Here's Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_privilege
Posted by: Charles at September 21, 2006 09:58 PM
I always thought executive priviledge went to members of the executive branch only, and only to content.
But your assertion that people won't speak freely to the president if they'll get hauled in front of committee is ridiculous. People dream of getting a chance to talk to the president. Get real.
Posted by: paul at September 22, 2006 04:27 PM
No, it applies to any of the executive branch's internal actions. Like every other privilege it is not absolute, but it exists.
Yes, people dream of talking to the president, but there are a lot of people who are asked to give him advice and don't want their name in the papers. There's a difference between the two. It's called keeping confidences. When you can't keep a confidence, people stop confiding in you. And that is a lot more real than you seem to get or give it credit for.
Posted by: Charles at September 22, 2006 06:49 PM