Bush's Alternate Reality

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"'They will review a broad agenda of diplomatic and security issues, as well as where we are now in the global energy market,' National Security Adviser John Hannah told reporters on the flight from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia today. . . .

"[A] senior administration official, who briefed reporters traveling with Cheney, said the vice president may not seek anything more than a thorough discussion about the current situation in the global energy markets."

So?

I wrote in yesterday's column about Cheney's response to an interviewer's observation that Americans overwhelmingly oppose the war in Iraq.

Said Cheney: "So?"

The White House press corps got into the spirit of the occasion at yesterday's briefing with Dana Perino.

Perino: "It's one of those days I have nothing to start with."

Q: "So? (Laughter.)"

Perino later tried to explain that the president and the vice president act on principle and not based on public opinion. That led to a classic exchange with Hearst columnist Helen Thomas:

Thomas: "The American people are being asked to die and pay for this. And you're saying they have no say in this war?"

Perino: "No, I didn't say that Helen. But Helen, this president was elected --"

Thomas: "Well, what it amounts to is you saying we have no input at all."

Perino: "You had input. The American people have input every four years, and that's the way our system is set up. . . . "

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