The NYT is reporting that Bush & Cheney's appearance before the 9/11 commission won't be recorded, televised, or even conducted under oath. From the article:
Legal scholars said the lack of an official transcript would give the White House some deniability and make it more difficult to use the president's words as evidence in a future suit against the government."It gives them more maneuverability in case someone slips up or says something he regrets," Stephen Gillers, a law professor at New York University, said.
In a sane world, the lack of an official transcript would tend to remove any sense of credibility or authority from the appearance. But this is Elizabeth Bumiller's world, where she can ask questions like "really quick: is God on America's side?" and still keep her job.
Disgusting. I don't even know where to start.
Tim Dunlop sums up the history of Bush's waffling and manipulation of the commission. Three words: "Mickey. Mouse. Club."