Monday, July 18, 2005

QUOTE OF THE DAY (UPDATED)

"Bush: Any Criminals in Leak to Be Fired"-from the AP story, posted today at 9:11 AM, Pacific Time. I hope this doesn't mean he has the prosecution wired in his favor. Update: A new version of this story has the following: "Reflecting the highly politicized environment surrounding the issue, Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, dispatched an e-mail to reporters barely an hour after the president spoke, challenging the shift in Bush's wording.

"Faced with a question about whether or not he will keep his promise to fire those involved in leaking the identity of an undercover CIA agent while we are at war, President Bush backed away from his initial pledge and lowered the ethics bar," Dean said." Update: In the latest version, John Conyers is quoted: ""It appears that an administration that came to office promising 'honesty and integrity' and to avoid 'legalisms' is now defining ethical standards downward," said Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.

"In this White House, apparently no aide will be fired or forced to resign unless and until the jail cell door is locked behind him."

And the story also mentions a Democratic congressman from California: "Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., said Bush's standard for firing Rove was not consistent with a 2-year-old executive order governing the protection of national secrets. Under the order, Bush is required to impose administrative sanctions such as dismissal if anyone acted negligently in confirming information about Plame's identity."

No comments: