Why won't Bush allow his underlings to promise to tell the truth when questioned by Congress?

Question

"He knows the Democrats are just playing games" is not an appropriate answer. It makes the President a petulant child.

Answer 1

Wait--when has the president NOT seemed like a petulent child?

What I find curious is, how different would a story told under oath be from one told in private without tape recorders? I find it fascinating the president thinks his government need not engage in transparency.

How does oral sex get vaunted into a national security matter, but outing CIA operatives, engaging in torture in foreign gulags, domestic spying, dismissing US district attorneys for political shenanigans, secretly abolishing the FISA court, rescinding the Geneva Conventions, violating the NNPT and other international treaties, the Downing Street Memo, launching unprovoked war... None of these things are security issues. Go figure.

Answer 2

Not only did he allow his underlings to tell the truth to Congress he offered to set it up for Congress. He is, however, following the Constitution that prohibits Congress from subpoenaing the executive branch. Frankly, since that is the case, Bush didn't have to make ANY offer to Congress in this regard but HE is trying to compromise and work with Congress. Seems like Congress is on a witch hunt and will do whatever it has to do to get what it wants, including breaking the law.

Answer 3

Bush claims executive privilege. There has been a precedent set for the presidential advisors to be sworn in for a congressional hearing. This does not infringe on executive privilege when the reason for the hearing is not for an illegal offense. Firing the U.S. attorneys was not illegal. It is only questionable because it was probably done for political reasons.

It is likely the president knows that these people will have to lie and doesn't want them to be under oath because that would lead to perjury. It is also likely that these hearings will lead to new laws about hiring and firing U.S. attorneys.

Answer 4

Because he is a tyrant that doesn't know how government is suppose to work.

He should be grateful that justice is being served.

If his underlings are dirty then HE WINS because Congress cleans the house.

If his underlings are clean then HE WINS, no harm no foul.



The problem here is he doesn't serve the AMERICAN PUBLIC - that's YOU AND ME AND AMERICA!!!

Answer 5

Because they are all a pack of lying, thieving, dissembling incompetents who couldn't stand up to the true light of day, that's why. He and his administration are already in a whole peck of trouble with the American public, why would they want to add to their own misery? More of that will be meted out to them shortly anyway. You are about to see a whole flurry of investigations begin. When Bush and Company are finished being skewered, they will wish they had never even heard of Washington, D. C., much less striven to be its masters.

Answer 6

Because they don't have too. It's called executive privilege & every president over the last 100 years has used it so they wouldn't have to tell congress anything they didn't want to. Clinton used it just like Bush is using it.

Answer 7

It's very simple, he knows that there is much guilt in his administration and he's trying to hide it. Each day that passes another skin is pulled off the Bush onion showing another underlayment of lies and deceit.

Answer 8

And let the truth be told about the Bush realities? C'mon.

Answer 9

Again, When is Bill Clinton going to start telling the truth?

Answer 10

The truth won't set him free. It may send him to the same place as Saddam.