Josh Marshall has a point -- where are all of *'s big name defenders?

[CatWoman]

Oh, they can do better than that, can't they?

CNN's headline story on the O'Neill story reads: "Cabinet members defend Bush from O'Neill"

And then, when you click through, it turns out the cabinet members are Don Evans (the president's Texas crony and political fixer) and John Snow (O'Neill's tepidly respected successor at Treasury).

None of the bigs? That's all? No Colin? We're Rummyless?

-- Josh Marshall

www.talkingpointsmemo.com

[cthrumatrix]

1. they won't go public or answer a question.....it's trial time

[Catfish]

2. Odd, isn't it?

I noticed this last night. Plus their responses seemed tepid. We know that Suskind spoke with other Cabinet members. Maybe Karl is having trouble knowing who to ask for backup since he might be trying to guess who the others are.

[DBoon]

4. Well if there is a leak

Rove should have them all undergo polygraph testing


HeeHeeHee HawHawHaw

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Uhhhhhhh...

Maybe there ain't none? ;-)

[fishguy]

5. Rummy told O'Neill not to do the book

[Catfish]

6. Good point

Why don't they trot out Rummy to tell everyone how engaged Bush is in policy? Maybe because he might have to answer some questions about the focus on Iraq in January and February of 2001.

[cthrumatrix]

7. better yet..ask them if the Oil Maps are true or not...ask if anyhting

is true and have them on film for the court of law can decide

[Dhalgren]

10. You've got it right there.

Any of the biggies who were present for the Iraq meetings can't come out and say it isn't true, because they were there and O'Neil has proof. If they come out in an open forum they will be asked the embarrassing questions. Good call - the guilty can't come to the Criminal in Chief's aid without exposing themselves.

[Catfish]

12. yes

You have the guilty and the ones who cooperated with Suskind, so who's left at the Cabinet level to defend Bush? Snow wasn't around in 2001 and Evans wouldn't have been in those NSC meetings (I don't think).

[KissMyAsscroft]

8. They dont want to refute it to loudly...

That would only add to the noise...

By using "cabinet members" to dismiss it, the debate is framed as ex-employee vs. new and improved employees and takes the focus off the president.

Basically, it makes it look like Bush cant be bothered with the distraction.


Its up to the Dems to hammer this point relentlessly.

[Catfish]

9. I think you are correct

and Rove is a master at managing these crises. Now, let's see what Dems pursue this in any meaningful way. We can forget about the press.

[papau]

16. Today show "out of the loop- no need to know" was tossed out as

reason O'Neill was saying what he was saying.

But fellow that was stated flat out that that line was a lie - and Matt's co-host lady (Katie Curic) did not follow up with a question about what does this telling of lies mean about Bush and staff credibility.

I guess GE censorship is alive and well at NBC.

[vi5]

11. If they aknowledge it, it gets coverage....

Like everything else the first tactic is to ignore it so that nobody covers the story. Then only if it somehow gets legs will they address it.

[Gin]

13. they are all in an undisclosed location.....getting their story straight..

Rove is holding the meeting...the puppet is sitting there crying...sucking his thumb...scared that he will lose his job...
the dickster is mad as hell...they have to calm him down because his heart is racing..."the puppet's siamese" twin is sucking his other thumb...thinking...there goes her run for president.

[cthrumatrix]

14. with the media waiting on Rove's order.....quite a picture and true

[ewagner]

19. Ignore first

marginalize second

Minimize or parse O'Niells claims

Downplay his role

Suggest altererior motives.

By no means give the story any credibility at all.

[kskiska]

15. Suskind said that "several" cabinet members

spoke to him. Maybe Evans and Snow are the only ones who didn't.

[Catfish]

17. I just read the msnbc.com

story which is in its' International section (???) and it's just a compilation of wire reports. One defender is Rep. Mark Foley of FL, not much of a heavy hitter.

[CatWoman]

18. I read that too

And Foley is accusing O'Neill of trying to enrich himself thru book sales.

Thing is, it was stated last night that O'Neill will not get any profits from this book.

[kskiska]

21. Mark Foley

of naughty nudist camp fame.

[proud patriot]

20. John Marshal has been right on the money

I wondering what he's pondering now :think: