Bush/Lehrer Interview: "uh--911/911-there's an enemy that lurks"

[kpete]

From George Bush’s interview with Jim Lehrer today:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Jim, we do not discuss ongoing intelligence operations to protect the country, and the reason why is that there's an enemy that lurks, that would like to know exactly what we're trying to do to stop them. I will make this point. That whatever I do to protect the American people, and I have an obligation to do so, that we will uphold the law, and decisions made are made understanding we have an obligation to protect the civil liberties of the American people.

MR. LEHRER: So if, in fact, these things did occur, they were done legally and properly?

PRESIDENT BUSH: So you're trying to get me to talk about a program--

MR. LEHRER: Yeah.

PRESIDENT BUSH: --that's important not to talk about, and the reason why is that we're at a war with an enemy that still wants to attack. I, uh--after 9/11, I told the American people I would do everything in my power to protect the country, within the law, and that's exactly how I conduct my presidency.

MR. LEHRER: Well, Mr. President, with all due respect, wouldn't you think--don't you believe that answer is going to lead people to believe that you're confirming that in fact you did this?

PRESIDENT BUSH: We don't talk about sources and methods. Don't talk about ongoing intelligence operations. I know there's speculation. But it's important for the American people to understand that we will do--or I will use my powers to protect us, and I will do so under the law, and that's important for our citizens to understand."

MP3 of the complete interview at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/w...view/ index.html
bb | 12.16.05 - 4:03 pm | #

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/july-dec05/bushinterview/index.html
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/113477627957677519/

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. If Bush's main job is to protect the American people

then why did he eat cake and play guitar when the country needed him the most?

How does taking away my right to privacy make me safer?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. He has the look of a man who knows that everyone in the

country knows he is so full of crap that it is no longer any fun.

[MissWaverly]

5. I thought he looked gleeful saying to ask Novak who tipped him

That Valerie Plame was a covert agent. I think that he's a good actor, I think that the
smirk is his true self.

[LSparkle]

3. Don't tell us what we "need to understand," BOZO!

Every time he says that, it infuriates me! He's the one who needs to understand this -- YOU ARE NOT A KING! YOU ARE NOT A DICTATOR! WE ARE YOUR BOSSES!

Now, crawl back to Crawford and stay there!

:nuke:

[Cassandra]

4. Bush is the enemy that lurks.

We hardly need another.

[MadisonProgressive]

6. Capital BEEE, capital ESSS