Bush Says DeLay Is Not Guilty of Money Laundering

[deminks]

I thought they didn't comment on ongoing investigations??

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/14/AR2005121402119.html?nav=rss_politics

President Bush said yesterday he is confident that former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) is innocent of money-laundering charges, as he offered strong support for several top Republicans who have been battered by investigations or by rumors of fading clout inside the White House.

In an interview with Fox News, Bush said he hopes DeLay will be cleared of charges that he illegally steered corporate money into campaigns for the Texas legislature and will reclaim his powerful leadership position in Congress.

"I hope that he will, 'cause I like him, and plus, when he's over there, we get our votes through the House," Bush told Fox News's Brit Hume. DeLay was forced to step down as majority leader after he was indicted in the fundraising case, and he is seeking a quick trial in hopes of returning to power early next year.

It is highly unusual for a president to express an opinion on a pending legal case. Richard M. Nixon, for instance, was widely criticized for declaring Charles Manson "guilty, directly or indirectly" of murder while Manson's trial was ongoing.

[rpannier]

1. I know when I want information on current events

I turn to the guy who says he never watches the news or reads newspapers.

[emulatorloo]

9. maybe Dan Bartlett fired up his iMac and made another DVD for Bush

called "Free Tom Delay".

[Technowitch]

2. "And he's doing a heck of a job," Bush quipped..

...thereby sealing DeLay's ultimate doom.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. He's referring to Rummy when he says that

in this article anyway. So in this one article in the WP, Bush opines:

DeLay innocent
Rove and he are as "close" as ever
Rummy is doing a heck of a job.

In DeLay's case he is usurping the role of judge and jury by stating he is "confident" D is innocent

If he and Rove are so close - Bush should know definitively whther Rove is the other leaker or not.

No one in the world thinks Rummy is doing a heck of a job. Same job approval rating from Bush as Brownie. And, about the same competence in overall job performance. Possibly we just don't know the key to Bush's rating system. Maybe it goes in ascending order from "heck of a job" to "good heck of a job" to "darn great heck of a job" to the ultimate "f@#$%ing great heck of a job"

[fooj]

3. This certainly is telling...

It is highly unusual for a president to express an opinion on a pending legal case. Richard M. Nixon, for instance, was widely criticized for declaring Charles Manson "guilty, directly or indirectly" of murder while Manson's trial was ongoing.

Rat bastard. Of course he likes the creep!
:puke:

[Nordmadr]

4. but isn't that commenting on an ongoing inestigation?

Something the White House has adamantly refused to comment on in the past? Well that is odd.

Olafr

[soothsayer]

5. I hope the WH press corps hammer Snotty over that one...!

[B Calm]

6. Give President Chuckle Nuts a break, he's still looking for the leaker.

[Spinzonner]

7. Jailbirds of a feather

with any luck

[Plaid Adder]

10. Oh, well, if BUSH says it...

...then you KNOW it's a lie!

Get the batcuffs ready, Robin,

The Plaid Adder

[harlinchi]

11. Isn't that called 'command influence'?

It seems like it to me.

I'm told that in the military, the outcomes of courts martial are almost always pre-determined, usually by command influence. A commander makes known his or her belief or preference, then subsequent actions by subordinates reflect that belief or preference.

When his interests were served by referring to command influence to defend his lack of comment on the Plame Leak Investigation, Bush had no problem holding his tongue about the merits of the case, any actions he planned as a consequence of the case or the inconsistencies in comments already made by he or his mouthpieces.

In the matter of Delay, the tar-brush (probably more accurately called a white-wash brush as few corrupted GOP'ers are Black!) of corruption comes close to Bush but does not appear to actually hit him. Appear, I said! As a result, Bush obviously feels comfortable exerting the influence he knows will result from such a statement.


"What sluggards, what cowards have I brought up in my court, who care nothing for their allegiance to their lord. Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest."

While neither Bush nor Delay is a King Henry II and Earle is not an Archbishop Becket, I'd be very careful if I were he. Small planes in Texas would be a no-no (Even bin Ladens died in plane crashes in Texas, a father in 1968 and a son in 1988! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/family.html). I'd communicate to all I knew the fact that suicide has never been considered and if it is asserted to have occurred (in the future) it is not true.

There will always be a loyal Bush worker to take action on his behalf.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. I hope a member of the WH press corp asks Scottie why?

the idiot can comment on Delay's "ongoing investigation", but can't comment on theirs? Helen Thomas? ;)

They're such hypocrites.