LA Times: "White House Plans to Deflect" - WH post-indictment game plans

[Nothing Without Hope]

It will be interesting to see if Shrub is willing to listen to these "GOP advisors" rather than indulging his petulance and fury. I am waiting for the moment when he finally cracks and throws in public - where it is filmed - the kind of hissy fit that he is said to be doing more all the time in private. He has to be nearing some kind of edge.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-assess27oct27,0,1051268.story?track=tothtml
NEWS ANALYSIS

White House Plans to Deflect

If top aides are indicted in the CIA leak case, the administration strategy is to keep its distance.
By Doyle McManus, Warren Vieth and Mary Curtius, Times Staff Writers
October 27, 2005

(snip)

Some key elements of the post-investigation game plan have emerged, GOP advisors said:

• Any indicted White House officials would immediately step down, and Bush would quickly name their successors. If Rove is indicted, more than one person might take over his many responsibilities.
  
  
• The president and other White House officials would limit their public comments on the case. Outside interest groups and allies would do most of the talking.
  
  
• Whenever possible, Bush and other administration officials would try to change the subject. Among the issues the president plans to put atop his new agenda are spending restraint, tax changes and immigration. In addition, Bush's foreign policy advisors have discussed launching a more visible presidential effort to prod Israel and the Palestinians toward peace, one official said.
  
  
• The White House would try to insulate Bush from the scandal allegations. Officials would argue that the president has not been accused of any direct involvement in the leaking of information in the CIA case or subsequent efforts to minimize the political damage. Although it is not yet clear who would coordinate the defense, several advisors said they expected Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman would be heavily involved. One official said former Cheney aide Mary Matalin was another likely participant. Neither Mehlman nor Matalin could be reached for comment.

(snip)

One does wonder who these "GOP advisors" are. And whether * will heed this advice.

Can't resist adding this great Toles cartoon:



Merry Fitzmas! As Botany says, "Treason is the reason for the season!"