Today’s Qs for O’s WH – 6/19/2009

GIBBS: Well, Jake, we can go back and forth, your question, my answer. I think I’ve answered the question.
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Do you just want to say, “If your answer actually addressed my question, we could stop going back and forth!”
I also find this interesting:
” I know you’ve discussed that with the staff in many ways. “

Go, Tapper, go! Of course Gibby thinks he’s answered your question, because, as you so rightly pointed out, he had exhausted his assigned talking points. Thanks for asking him to actually answer your question, and for persisting when he did nothing of the kind. Keep up the good work. Wish you got an opportunity to similarly grill the president himself next week, insisting on actual specific answers to simple, crucial questions.

One more thing, could YOU make an appearance at the White House ABC TV broadcast thingy? I think a lot of us trust that YOU would ask tough and fair questions!

“GIBBS: Well, obviously, Jake, ….”
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No, Gibby, it not obvious, no matter how many times you love using that word. That’s why he’s asking the questions. Stop treating the man like a moron.
Keep it up jpt!

I also find this interesting:
” I know you’ve discussed that with the staff in many ways. ”
Posted by: MayBee | Jun 19, 2009 3:48:51 PM
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Yes, I found that interesting as well. Hey jpt, they know what you’re up to…at all times. How long before they “lose confidence” in your abilities? What thugs. Disgusting.

“I think I’ve answered the question”
Hmmmm…..thinking is not exactly the “strong suit” of this administration!

There’s a link in the upper right to pose questions during ABC’s Health Care infomercial. Do you think they will actually ask this in its entirety?
Barack,
Why is it that you insist on rushing healthcare reform through Congress? You state that it must be done now for the economy. Similar statements were said for the stimulus bill as well as the omnibus bill. At what point will you realize how much debt you have added and plan to add to our country? Do you honestly think that spending all of this money, which we do not have, will make our country better and/or stronger? You know that a public option will lead to the end of private health insurance even as you claim that you believe in a ‘light touch’ for government intervention into the private sector. Also, without going against your pledge of not raising taxes on the middle class, how do you plan to recoup the money that you have spent and the money that you plan to spend on health care reform? How do you plan on addressing cap and trade without increasing the financial burden on the American people? At what point do you think the people will say ‘enough is enough?’ The time for fiscal responsibility is now. Not just for defense spending or programs you disagree with, but across the board. Are you so arrogant that you plan to do as you please without fully understanding the consequences of your actions?

stdntDrvr:” Do you think they will actually ask this in its entirety?”
tl;dr

I responded to jhw539 on an earlier thread and am still waiting for a response defending this statement:
“The Walpin firing followed the law and is currently going through exactly the Congress/Administration back and forth on details that was intended by the law.” – jhw539
Followed the law? Try some facts. Mr. Walpin says his “termination” phone call came from Norman Eisen, the Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, who said the President felt it was time for Mr. Walpin to “move on,” and that it was “pure coincidence” he was asked to leave during the St. HOPE controversy. [Update: Apparently he was given an hour to resign or be fired.]
What part of that followed the law? Last year Congress passed the Inspectors General Reform Act, which requires the President to give Congress 30 days notice, plus a reason, before firing an inspector general. A co-sponsor of that bill was none other than then Senator Obama. Now that they have failed to pressure Walpin into resigning, they been forced to give him 30 day notice, and to tell Congress its reasons (which should be interesting.
And I suppose this “back and forth” you refer to, jhw539, is the Administration smearing Walpin as “confused” and “disoriented” in public.

An increasingly strong “unitary” executive branch has been in the making for decades.
It’s always disturbing, but Obama is hardly unique. He’s pretty much following established custom at this point.
I hope that congress will reign in the executive…. in general, and for many generations… especially when it comes to war.

Traffic Cop Timmy:”What part of that followed the law? Last year Congress passed the Inspectors General Reform Act, which requires the President to give Congress 30 days notice, plus a reason, before firing an inspector general.”
Laws are written and defined items. The law did not use an undefined colloquial. Walpin is still on the payroll, his employment has not technically been terminated – his seniority, pay grade, etc are all intact and it would take 15 minutes to fully restore his duties. Obama followed the law as it is written, which is also what courts do, not the law as Hannity thinks it means.
“Now that they have failed to pressure Walpin into resigning, they been forced to give him 30 day notice, and to tell Congress its reasons (which should be interesting.”
Wait – YOU KNOW THEY GAVE HIM 30 DAYS NOTICE. What was your first accusation? That they told him he’s going to be fired so he may resign? You are contradicting your own venom.
“And I suppose this “back and forth” you refer to, jhw539, is the Administration smearing Walpin as “confused” and “disoriented” in public.”
WALPIN HIMSELF ADMITTED HE GAVE THAT IMPRESSION. And, by Congress’s interpretation of the law, they were required to relay that information in public.
Please try to deal with REALITY rather than arguing from some right wing fantasy land.
“Walpin blamed the appearance that he seemed confused on the fact that his “notes had somehow become disorganized. And I was not feeling well.””
Walpin himself has verified the accuracy of the account of him appearing dazed and confused, unable to perform his duties (which include being able to provide information and answer questions).

Gibbs’ repsonses to your questions are not strengthening my confidence that the administration’s agenda is in the best interests of the people. Day after day, we are forced to conclude that the administration believes that somehow the ends justify the means.
Attempts by Gibbs to diffuse the serious nature of your questions are either flippant, naive or corrupt. May I suggest that you ask Gibbs if he believes that the Treasury behaved naively or corruptly. Because we know there is no justifiable reason for the Treasury to be acting in the interests of the people by witholding information, a non-answer would be an implicit acknowlegement of corruption or naivete. And either explanation is unacceptable.

jhw539- You don’t have to have a government office to stand to gain more from certain kinds of government expansion.

“could you actually answer my question? I understand the talking points you’ve been given, but — but could you answer my question…”
Awesome.
Jake is doing everything possible to have his seat on Air Force One revoked…Hope it doesn’t happen anytime soon.

Obama followed the law as it is written, which is also what courts do, not the law as Hannity thinks it means. -jhw539
Forget Hannity. If Jake is following up on it, that’s good enough for me. I’ll wait out the result…

FLash, not sure why you are in pain. Gibby did NOT answer the question being asked by Tapper, and Tapper pressed for specific information that Gibby did not give. It’s pretty simple, really.

By the way, Gibbs CANT answer the part about “please explain why it appears that..” unless you attribute to him the power to read Jake’s mind.