Dana Peroxide Says Blame Condi
Q Thank you, Dana. Whose idea was it in the White House to give the appointment succeeding Senator Thompson as chairman of the key board to Paul Wolfowitz?
MS. PERINO: Whose decision was it? Well, the President makes those decisions. Was it the — this is the board that Paul Wolfowitz is now on at the State Department?
Q That he was made chairman of, succeeding Senator Thompson.
MS. PERINO: Is it a few weeks ago? I think it was at the — I guess it was at the State Department. That’s what we were asked a while ago. But it’s a State Department appointment, not a presidential appointment.
Q Okay, just confirming.
MS. PERINO: But I don’t know who at the State Department. I would assume ultimately Secretary Rice.
Dana Disses Chimpy
Q Is the country better off —
MS. PERINO: The what?
Q Is the country better off now than seven years ago?
MS. PERINO: Certainly seven years ago — well, seven years ago, right before September 11th, I think that people would say that the country certainly felt better off.
They’re Laughing At You, Dana, Not With You
Q Is there any doubt that the President has the power to use an executive order to tell agencies to ignore something Congress has done?
MS. PERINO: No, and there is legislative language — I’m sorry, language from — let me find it; I have it somewhere — there’s a couple of rulings from the Supreme Court that said report language is not — I don’t have it with me — can you get that to them? We’ll attach it to this transcript and release this transcript.
Q Are those directly on point or tangential?
MS. PERINO: What do you mean, “directly on point or tangential”?
Q Do they really count? (Laughter.)
Q — make this up. (Laughter.)
MS. PERINO: Here it is. It says the Supreme Court says report language is not legally binding. And here are the two cases: Lincoln versus Vigil —
Q Oh, that’s a recent one. (Laughter.)
MS. PERINO: And the Cherokee nation versus Leavitt. Because I know you’re diligent enough and have all sorts of time today, you will look those up.
Q Dana, what nation — Turkey nation?
Q Cherokee.
MS. PERINO: Cherokee.
Q Oh, Cherokee nation. (Laughter.)
Less amusing is that in arguing Cherokee Nation v. Leavitt back in No. 2004, the Government’s prime argument was that since money had not been specifically appropriated to cover the contract costs with the Cherokee Nation, that the Department of the Interior was free to ignore the contract, even though the lump-sum appropriations were greater then the amount owed.
Again, the administration’s motto is that laws & bargains are for those weak enough to be held to them.