9/11 Commission Update
From the New York Post:In a stunning snub, two Democrats on the 9/11 commission yesterday abruptly walked out in the middle of the Oval Office interview with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Both early-departing panelists, former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey and ex-Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, insisted they had prior commitments - but their sudden slip out the side door of the White House left Washington and some fellow commission members in shock.
Kerrey dashed to handle a private business matter - lobbying Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) for more money for his employer, the New School University in Manhattan.
Hamilton bolted so that he could introduce the Canadian prime minister at a ceremonial event at the Woodrow Wilson Center, which employs Hamilton as its director.
"I was surprised," fellow commission member James Thompson told The Post.
The sudden walkouts while Bush and Cheney were still testifying are all the more surprising because the commission had lobbied for months for unlimited time with the president with all 10 commissioners able to participate
Matt's Chat
Oh yeah...this is an important committee doing important work. Kerrey is off doing business deals with Senators and the Vice Chairman of the Commission is meeting with Canadians! Nice. Can the Democrats get serious about this? Please? Pretty Please? With Sugar On Top? No? Oh, well, I tried. Next time, Democrats, shut the %^&* up. Really.Mark's Remarks
Wow, it shows you how really concerned these partisan puppets are about their solemn duties on the Commission, eh? Hamilton goes to introduce the Prime Minister of Canada and Bob "hey, I'm a War hero, too, dammit!" Kerrey is out shilling for the company that employs him as a lobbyist. So much for trying to find the truth and answers above all else, eh? Sad and pathetic. Even the commissioners realize this is a waste of time, that their commission has become a national joke and disappointment. At least Gorelick didn't try to build any more walls.
This really is pathetic, and it angers me very much. This commission, especially Mr. Kerrey, made so much of the Administration stonewalling them; but then what does Kerrey do when he has the chance to talk to the Man himself? He walks out to go shill and be the pathetic partisan HACK lobbyist he really is. So much for serving the people, eh?