Bush's bizarre comments regarding Patrick Fitzgerald today [View All]

[DoYouEverWonder]

Can someone help me out with Bush's statement today in regards to Fitzgerald and the Plame Investigation? What the hell is he talking about? First, he seems to speak in the past tense has if the investigation is over. He then implies that Fitzgerald's job has Special Prosecutor is up for reappointment? I understand his job in Chicago is an appointed position, separate from his position has SP. It seems Bush doesn't understand the difference? I thought Fitzgerald's job has SP was open ended and that he only answered to the President, not Gonzalez?

Press Conference by the President
Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago, Illinois

July 7, 2006

<snip>


Q Thank you very much. Mr. President, the work of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in prosecuting alleged corruption is well-known here in Chicago, as well as nationally. It's my understanding that technically, he hasn't been reappointed to his position, and serves at your pleasure. Do you have any plans to formally reappoint him to the post, or any position at Department of Justice?

THE PRESIDENT: As a special prosecutor?

Q And would you give us your assessment of the job that he's doing?

THE PRESIDENT: I don't have any plans to reappoint him because I haven't thought about it. I will now think about it, now that you brought it up.

The only -- I can give you an assessment of how I thought he handled the case in Washington. I haven't been following the cases here. I thought in Washington he handled the case with professionalism, he was very professional about it. You didn't see a lot leaks, you didn't see a lot of speculation, you didn't see a lot of people kind of dropping a little crumb here for the press to chew on. And I really thought he handled himself well.

But as far as reappointing him as a special prosecutor, I don't know whether the Attorney General is going to do that, or not. That's his choice to make.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060707-1.html