Was it just me, or did anyone else get the impression that Gonzales was not quite ready for prime time today? I kept thinking "Harriet Miers in drag." He just seemed like some very sweet guy in way over his head who probably should have never left Texas. And this is the guy Bush wants to put on the Supreme Court? Like I said, Harriet in drag.
From the DCCC:
BIDEN: Thank you very much.Think they're kidding? The transcript is here.
General, how has this revelation damaged the program?
I'm almost confused by it but, I mean, it seems to presuppose that these very sophisticated Al Qaida folks didn't think we were intercepting their phone calls.
I mean, I'm a little confused. How did it damage this?
GONZALES: Well, Senator, I would first refer to the experts in the Intel Committee who are making that statement, first of all. I'm just the lawyer.
And so, when the director of the CIA says this should really damage our intel capabilities, I would defer to that statement. I think, based on my experience, it is true -- you would assume that the enemy is presuming that we are engaged in some kind of surveillance.
But if they're not reminded about it all the time in the newspapers and in stories, they sometimes forget.
(LAUGHTER)
And you're amazed at some of the communications that exist. And so when you keep sticking it in their face that we're involved in some kind of surveillance, even if it's unclear in these stories, it can't help but make a difference, I think.
BIDEN: Well, I hope you and my distinguished friend from Alabama are right, that they're that stupid and naive because we're much better off if that's the case.
