My thoughts exactly. Josh Marshall takes a look at why the White House would want Bush & Cheney to meet together with the 9/11 commission instead of separately:
Only three scenarios or explanations make sense to me.The first -- and most generous -- explanation is that this is simply another way to further dilute the Commission's ability to ask questions.
If, say, the meeting lasts three hours, that's three hours to ask questions of both of them rather than three hours to ask questions of each -- as might be the case in separate meetings.
. . . .
Explanation number two would be that this is a fairly elementary -- and, one imagines, pretty effective -- way to keep the two of them from giving contradictory answers to the Commission's questions. It helps them keep their stories straight.
. . . .
The third explanation is that the White House does not trust the president to be alone with the Commission members for any great length of time without getting himself into trouble, either by contradicting what his staff says, or getting some key point wrong, or letting some key fact slip. And Cheney's there to make sure nothing goes wrong.
Had this announcement been made separately, I imagine it would have made quite a stink. However, by tacking it onto the announcement that Condi will be allowed to testify it's been completely drowned out in the media. I can only hope that when it comes time for this session to happen that the awareness level gets raised.
Posted by Jason at March 31, 2004 09:12 AM