This kind of comment is typical of the current conservative movement and this administration in particular. When they are confronted with an unfavorable piece of information they question the validity or attack the source with no actual proof to refute the item or back their own story. The conservative echo chamber then picks up on the fact that its been shot down, repeats ad nauseum and all of the sudden it becomes "fact" that filters to mainstream media. Expect to see this defense more when all of these charges against gop leaders start coming to fruition...

How is it that this admin and specifically Mr. McClellan can have it both ways? I can almost buy the "no comment because of the investigation" stance, but why do they keep getting away with commenting only when it serves their purposes? I think there is only one possible answer: Comments that reflect badly on the administration are, in general, material to the investigation, while comments that reflect well on the administration are irrelevant. More bluntly put, McClellan is covering, or being forced to cover, for the guilty parties in the Bush administration. He can't deny what he knows (now) to be true, so he keeps his mouth shut.

I guess my main question is: How is it that McClelland has one shred of credibility left? By reflection, how is it that the Bush administration has any left as well?

Any chance Scott Mclellan is a cousin to Dan Quayle? He's almost as smart. . .

In response to the comment below . . .

McClellan's comments came during today's press gaggle, not during the White House press briefing. While the press briefing transcripts almost always appear on the White House Web site, the gaggle transcripts often don't. The White House hasn't posted today's gaggle transcript, suggesting that this will be one of those days when it won't.

There is something about the pressroom dynamics that I really don't like. Somehow these news people have a pack mentality. Either shared passivity or shared ferocity. And we are still in the passive mode, in spite of this somewhat-less-sleepy-than-usual exchange.

Why can't they call him on it more aggressively? Hound him? Question his truthfulness with references to his past statements?

It seems they are afraid - afraid to be the nail that sticks out. Is that what we expect of our press?

The White House finally posted the transcript of today's press briefing after 5:00--and hour or two later than usual. And it does not contain the discussion of the New York Daily News article (on Bush confronting Rove over the CIA leak case) referenced above. This looks very susupicious! Was it redacted?

How many times to we have to go this route with these republicans. Time has dimmed my memory of the press secretaries of those two presidents but the words sound the same. As we know, Nixon could not survive his lies to fill out a second term. Reagan survived the Iran-Contra mess because the Democrates did not have the votes to impeach. If the Democrates could somehow take control of Congress in 2006, I think an impeachment would be in order. Because, if Bush did not know what Rove, etal. were doing in this matter, he is too stupid be president and if he did know, then he is too criminal to be president. These people seem never to learn that a freely elected president does not create an imperial presidency.

Among all the incompetent boobs in this administration,is there a single one who can hold a candle to Scott McClellan? I don't think so. The guy is the most unconvincing liar I've ever seen.

'Stonewall' McClellan has a nice ring to it.

Does Scott McClellan ever say anything beyond no comment? This has to be both the easiest and most difficult job in the world. Every day he is getting assualted by the press corps and all he ever has to say is no comment.

If Scott McClellan is going out of his way to say that today's Plamegate story in the Daily News is inaccurate, then we must conclude that all of the recent stories that he HASN'T disputed are essentially accurate.

Sounds like Fitzgerald must be waiting to move until FedEx delivers the crate of handcuffs he'll be using to perp-walk Rove and Co. out of the White House.