George knew Jack

February 9, 2006

As details of Jack Abramoff’s White House connections emerged, the president and his top aides went to great lengths to argue that Bush and Abramoff were barely ever in the same room together. A couple of weeks ago, at a press conference, Bush said, “[E]vidently, he was just like you were the other day, at a holiday party — came in, put — the grip-and-grin, they click the picture and off he goes.” Scott McClellan was willing to acknowledge that Abramoff attended White House Hanukkah receptions in 2001 and 2002, but nothing else.

But ThinkProgress reports that the contacts went beyond just a few holiday parties.

ThinkProgress has obtained emails written by Jack Abramoff in which the fallen lobbyist personally describes his relationship with President Bush. They depict a relationship far more extensive than has been previously reported.

The emails written by Abramoff were addressed to Kim Eisler, the national editor of Washingtonian magazine. The Washingtonian recently reported on the existence of several photographs showing Abramoff and Bush together. Eisler is also the author of Revenge of the Pequots, a book about tribal politics for which Abramoff was interviewed.

In the emails, Abramoff describes meeting Bush “in almost a dozen settings,” and details how he was personally invited to President Bush’s private ranch in Crawford, Texas, for a gathering of Bush fundraisers in 2003. Abramoff did not attend, citing a religious observance.

The emails suggest that Abramoff met Bush repeatedly, in a variety of places, and that the president knew all about him. In one email, Abramoff said Bush has “one of the best memories of any politician I have ever met…. The guy saw me in almost a dozen settings, and he joked with me about a bunch of things, including details of my kids.”

If true, Abramoff was more than just a guy who went to a couple of Hanukkah receptions.

Is it possible that Abramoff exaggerated his connections in these emails? Sure it is. Abramoff is not exactly known for his veracity; maybe he embellished his Bush ties to appear more important.

Or maybe he didn’t. The way to know for sure is for the Bush gang to do what McClellan already promised they would do: come clean and offer the public a “thorough report” on Abramoff’s White House connections.

ThinkProgress reportedly has more information that they’ll be releasing today. Stay tuned.

A guy raises over $100,000 for your reelection campaign and then you dis’ him?

Does anyone believe the bushies anymore?

  • As usual: a guy who pretty much refuses to use email (Shrub) gets trips up by email. The Administration can capture/destroy all known photos, but they never really get the emails. God I wish we had subpoena powers.

  • The problem is, the “gotcha” becomes a “so what?”
    So Bush lied, at worst. What’s that prove? When
    did a politician ever get nailed for lying, except
    Bill Clinton? And that was about sex.

    Why doesn’t anyone go after the bastard for
    all the crimes we KNOW he’s guilty of?

  • I’m still stuck on the notion that the White House has annual Hanukkah receptions. Why, they’ve declared War on Christmas! Someone should alert Hannity and O’Really so they can sound the impeachment clarion!

  • “Why doesn’t anyone go after the bastard for all the crimes we KNOW he’s guilty of?” — Hark

    Because Dick Cheney is up next 😉

    Hard to believe that Bush was clever enough to put a politican more hated than himself on the ticket. But that’s how it has turned out.

    I can see Dick getting his marching orders:

    Cheney: “Hi Karl, what did you want to see me about today?”

    Rove: “Dick, we are getting a lot of heat on this domestic spying nonsense. We need you to go out and attack the Dems. Make them seem weak and pro-terrorist.”

    Cheney: “But Karl, dammit! I’ve been carrying all the water for this administration. Do you see ‘my’ poll numbers? I’ve got higher negatives than Hillary! Every time I go out to do the spin my numbers get worse. What chance am I going to have in two years?”

    Rove: “Now Dick, don’t worry. We’ve done plenty of focus groups and all you need to do is call (LtGen Michael) Hayden’s program “Terrorist Surveillance”. That will please the base. Just get out there and do some speeches in friendly venues and we’ll make hay in November. Got to help the troops you know!”

    Cheney: “George could help the ‘troops’ by vetoing some of the crummy legislation that (Bill) Frist and (Dennis) Hastert keep pouring out of the Hill. We’ve got systemic deficits for the next five decades and believe me, deficits do still matter.”

    Rove: “Dick, these are your marching orders. My secretary has your schedule and speech right outside. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got another meeting.”

    — Cheney stumps out of the office. A few seconds later, the Secretary of Defense walks in.

    Rice: “Boy Karl, does he still think he is up first for ’08?”

    Rove: “He’s got an ego, you can’t deny that.”

    Rice: “Have you talked to George about tosing him overboard and putting me up for VP? It’ll grease my way to the nomination and victory.”

    Rove: “Connie, you know George would love to see you next. You’re his natural heir. Laura would love it too. But let’s wait until after the ’06 elections. If we take as big a hit because of Jack (Abramoff) as it looks likely, we may need a scapegoat. And Dick’s looking more goaty everyday. Hell, we could probably point out to George that Dick’s already a cyborg with all the stuff jammed into his chest.”

    Rice: “Damn, aren’t you funny Karl? (totally straight face)
    ’08, remember ’08. You want McCain sitting in the Oval? You want him looking through your files? You want him answering the question “who leaked Plame”?”

    Rove: “Okay, okay! I get the point. Let me just find the right time.”

    Rice: “That’s all I ask.”

  • Abramoff is blackmailing the administration. Or perhaps a better phrase would be shooting across the bow of Bush and Rove. Through his contacts with the Washingtonian he has publicized the fact that there are photographs of himself and Bush that he can make public if need be. This email is another message saying that if they don’t protect him, he will bring down the administration with what he knows or alleges. It comes at the same time that Bush has replaced the present agressive prosecutor with a temporary prosecutor from Florida. It is interesting to note that at the same time FEMA’s ex-chief, Brown, is using a similar tactic.

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