Obfuscation...Is Hard Work

From Cursor, here's a Washington Post article that outlines the strategy of Team Bush--Term II: "no mistakes, no regret, no comment."

Maybe the members of the personal accountability administration were on drugs, maybe they're lying--or maybe they really are a bunch of dodderheads. But the collective amnesia is beginning to assert itself on a multi-agency basis:

Alberto R. Gonzales, Bush's pick to be attorney general, professed no recollection of his role in the writing of a controversial memo that narrowly defined what constitutes torture. This week, he refused requests to research the origin of the memo.

"I have no such notes and I have no present knowledge of any such notes, memoranda, e-mails or other documents and I have not conducted a search," Gonzales wrote in response to a request that he document his role. Even if he were to locate such documents, Gonzales added, they "would involve predecisional deliberations that I am not at liberty to disclose."

In written answers to [Senator Edward] Kennedy, Gonzales used the words "I am not at liberty to disclose" at least 10 times; "I do not recall" or "I have no recollection" six times; I did not "conduct a search" seven times; "I am not at liberty [to discuss certain matters]" 10 times; and "I have no present knowledge" seven times.

The Post piece also notes Joe Biden's irritation at the non-answers proffered by Condoleezza Rice as proof of her qualifications for office (By the way, Biden gets the treatment he deserves from both James Wolcott and Simbaud, the former likening him to a slugger who pops out, the latter dubbing him "Four Legs Good" for rolling over and voting "yea" on sending Rice's name to the full Senate.

Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.), ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, complained to Rice about her tight limiting of answers.

"The questions we asked, I thought, gave you an opportunity to acknowledge some of the mistakes and misjudgments of the past four years," he told Rice. "But instead of seizing the opportunity, it seems to me, Dr. Rice, you danced around it...

When it came to particulars, Rice often demurred. Asked about briefings on part of Iraq's weapons program, she said, "I'm sorry, I just don't remember." Pressed about the abuse of prisoners in Iraq, she said, "I'm not going to speak to any specific interrogation techniques." When Biden asked about a possible agreement on Iran's nuclear program, she replied: "The answer, Senator, is I'm not going to get into hypotheticals till I know what I'm looking at. That's the answer."

The Bush White House, which has long complained about legislative encroachment on executive authority, dismissed the Democrats' complaints. "The president was very upfront with the American people about what we're facing in Iraq and what we're working to achieve in Iraq," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

But a number of constitutional experts -- some conservatives among them -- say the confirmation hearings underscore a lack of congressional oversight over the administration that could have a harmful effect on U.S. policies.

"It's a little bit appalling," Bruce Fein, a Reagan administration Justice Department official, said of the Bush administration's dealings with Congress. "A conservative should want greater congressional scrutiny -- it limits government, and it checks folly."

Hmm. Rice basically refuses to discuss ANYTHING. Could it be because she has no idea what she's talking about? I'm beginning to think so. As for the administration being "upfront with the American people about what we're facing in Iraq," well, that's a good one. Hey, Scott, what's next? Jokes about looking for WMD's? Oh wait, you've already done that--maybe you'll want to have some fun at the expense of those killed or wounded in Iraq--or their families.