So what would you ask Scott McClellan if you were sitting among the White House Press Corps? I know what I would ask, but now's your chance to come up with questions most likely to elicit a response...or at least a new form of denial.
Here are my 20 questions for Scott McClellan:
- Scott, I'm wondering if you could settle a bet for pool reporters. Have White House statements over the past two weeks been more Clintonian or Nixonian?
- Now that the President has set a new standard for White House employment, will he personally guarantee, as he has with Plame's leakers, that any federal employee may leak any information at any time as long as he or she does not commit a crime?
- Have our close allies, including the British, expressed reluctance to share intelligence information as long as known leakers still have access to classified materials?
- If I could follow up, how would that reluctance to share intelligence information affect this country's ability to fight the War on Terror?
- Does the President encourage White House employees to leak information that might help prosecute and convict Plame's leakers as long as the new leaks are legal?
- Scott, the President has a new standard for White House employment that anyone who hasn't committed a crime may serve. When does the President plan to rehire Paul O'Neill?
- If I could follow up, what will be Paul O'Neill's new job title?
- If I could follow up again, what will be O.J. Simpson's job at the White House?
- When the President says "committed a crime," what does he mean? Will such an employee be fired immediately after indictment or after conviction?
- What does the President mean by "crime"? If a White House employee violated an executive order -- his order -- is that grounds for immediate dismissal?
- Scott, if I could follow up: explain the White House process for determining whether an employee violated an executive order. Which individual or group is responsible for making that determination?
- Is Karl Rove now allowed into the Oval Office?
- Scott, many of the press photographers would like to get more pictures of Karl Rove standing alongside President Bush. When do you expect the next photo opportunity for such pictures?
- Has former President Bush spoken with his son about the leaking of Plame's identity?
- Has the White House sent a letter of apology to Valerie Plame and the other exposed undercover agents who worked for Brewster-Jennings? Why or why not?
- If I could follow up, will President Bush send a letter of apology to Valerie Plame and the other exposed undercover agents at the conclusion of this investigation?
- Scott, has Karl Rove ever lied to you?
- Does the White House urge all individuals, including Judith Miller, to cooperate with Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation?
- If Patrick Fitzgerald indicts one or more White House employees, will the White House continue to cooperate fully?
- Does the White House urge all individuals, including Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, to avoid leaking information on the record or off the record since, according to the White House, such statements may jeopardize the ongoing investigation?