Petrelis Files

Jeff Gannon, Blade Writer: Still Kissing Bush's Butt

Former White House shill, um, reporter, Jim Guckert, alias Jeff Gannon, seems blissfully ignorant about Bush's very-scripted video talk this morning with our soldiers in Iraq.

He writes on his blog:

"President Bush held a live conversation with troops stationed in Iraq this morning. These men and women are upbeat and confident, brimming with the good news about the war that the Old Media won't report."

Here's how one member of the Old Media, the Associated Press, covered the conversation:

"The exchange was carefully choreographed.

"Before it began, a Pentagon official coached the troops, telling them the president planned to ask questions on three topics: The overall security in Iraq, how they were preparing for the vote on Saturday and how much progress had been made in the training of Iraqi troops."

The White House has graciously posted a transcript of the talk on the web and I think it shows how some of the soldiers Bush spoke with may have been chosen to participate because of their previous rescue work in the aftermath of 9/11, allowing the president to invoke that tragedy again for political gain:

"SERGEANT LOMBARDO: Good morning, Mr. President. I'm Master Sergeant Corine Lombardo, with the Headquarters 42nd Infantry Division and Task Force Liberty, from Scotia, New York. First, I'd like to say that this is a pleasure to speak with you again. We had the honor of your visit in New York City on November 11th, in 2001, when you recognized our Rainbow Soldiers for their recovery and rescue efforts at Ground Zero.

"THE PRESIDENT: Were you there?

"SERGEANT LOMBARDO: We began our fight against terrorism in the wake of 9/11, and we're proud to continue it here in North-Central New York -- North-Central Iraq."

Why, the president is SHOCKED the sergeant was part of the rescue effort at the World Trade Center. What coincidence he was picked to speak with Bush today! Oh, and the sergeant appear not to have learned his lines very well; mistakenly saying he's in North Central New York, when he's actually in Iraq. Oops.

"THE PRESIDENT: Let me ask you something. Were you there when I came to New York?

"SERGEANT LOMBARDO: Yes, I was, Mr. President.

"THE PRESIDENT: I thought you looked familiar.

"SERGEANT LOMBARDO: Well, thank you.

"THE PRESIDENT: I probably look familiar to you, too.

"SERGEANT LOMBARDO: Yes, you do, Mr. President."

I'm telling you, Abbott and Costello couldn't come up with a better routine than these two performers.

Then, Bush had to contend with a tough questioner on the battlefield, who had something important to say.

"THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Sergeant Akeel, thanks for joining us. I appreciate -- appreciate your service. You've got something to say, Akeel?

"SERGEANT AKEEL: Good morning, Mr. President. Thank you for everything. Thank very much for everything.

"THE PRESIDENT: Yes, you're welcome.

"SERGEANT AKEEL: I like you. (Laughter.)

"THE PRESIDENT: Well, I appreciate that."

The full transcript is at the White House site.

I'm sure he does, what with his polling numbers falling through the floor, he needs someone to like him.

And if Guckert/Gannon's kissing of Bush's butt on his blog isn't enough for you and you need more of his opinion, check out the Washington Blade. The gay weakly is running his column every couple of weeks, providing him with a platform to bash gays and lesbians who don't like Bush, the GOP and Schwarzenegger.