Bob Schieffer got it right yesterday:

[kliljedahl]

I know the rule is four paragraphs & link to the rest but this is only four paragraphs long: I'll do all four & then link.

Common Sense

It was an extraordinary moment. We had all just breathed a sigh of relief that the nation's capital had not been under attack Wednesday when the White House revealed that no one had told the president about any of it until the danger had passed. The president had been out biking when it happened and, as the White House told it, there was no need to tell him, no need for him to know, since he was in no danger.

Now wait a minute. No need to know his wife had been taken to a bomb shelter, the vice president and congressional leaders were being whisked to secret locations, the Capitol and the White House were being evacuated?

Please. Common sense -- to be sure, a resource that is seldom used in Washington -- tells us that communications equipment failed, or someone just made a bonehead mistake. Not exactly indictable offenses. But this White House is genetically incapable of admitting even a minor mistake, so spinners found themselves arguing the president is so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things that he didn't need to be told until all the smart people around him had fixed the problem.

Call me old-fashioned, but I'd feel better if the president knew. I have no inside information, but my guess is the president agrees. I've known a president or two in my time and I've yet to meet one who thought he was inconsequential, or who appreciated having himself pictured as such, especially by his own people. I sure wouldn't.


Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/16/opinion/schieffer/main695423.shtml


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[demnan]

1. Watch out Bob

You might be the next one to be "Rathered"

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I just read Schiefer's autobiography

and highly recommend it. Great book. He definitely has my respect.

[mcscajun]

3. Did Someone Wake Up Bob Schieffer?

Or perhaps we've been watching the "pod Schieffer" all this time and the real one came back? :boggle:

[napi21]

4. I was watching his show. Bob is usually good and one of the few

who uses commonsense...a rarity these days!

[dave29]

5. Nero fiddled, Bush Biked.

n/t

[peacetalksforall]

6. Good for him...but why doens't he speak out on all the other issues

where he pumps and pimps for the right wing instead. Not telling George is not a very big thing on the stage the right wing has built for our torture by lies show. We all know Cheney is the Pres.

Bob S should address why they sent all those Legislators into the streets if there is such a big threat from biological assault as we've been told for five years.

Also, why doesn't he discuss what the plan was for Hastert in this instance and what actaully happened? Was Hastert in the black car with Cheney. If yes, why? And why wasn't the bunker good enough for Cheney...were the black cars better for propaganda?

In light of the depraved handling in contrast to the depraved handling on 9-11...Bob is whispering to gnats. But, maybe this means he is finally finding a way to speak out and is starting with a clearing of his throat.

[yellowcanine]

7. Schieffer gives Bush too much credit. This kind of thing happens ONLY

because Bush has made it clear to his minions that he is NOT TO BE DISTURBED while he is relaxing. Oh they will change the "protocols" now that it has gotten so much negative publicity and it made Bush look like an irrelevant idiot but you can bet that this was no accident.

[splat@14]

8. His closing comments are the best part of his show.

Did anybody else think that Ted Kennedy sounded ridiclulus in his interview replies on the same show? Couldn't provide a direct answer. I like the guy but he really didn't handle the interview well at all.

[kliljedahl]

9. Same here, seemed hesitant

Wasn't one of his better interviews.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Torgo4]

10. Thank Gravity He Didn't Blame Bus!

<But this White House is genetically incapable of admitting even a minor mistake, so spinners found themselves arguing the president is so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things that he didn't need to be told until all the smart people around him had fixed the problem.>

Nothing is Bush's fault.
'Course, what do you expect from a W golfing buddy?