in·ten·tion: A course of action that one intends to follow, no matter what one actually says.
"We don't dispute that the ISOO (Information Security Oversight Office) has a different opinion. But let's be very clear: This executive order was issued by the president, and he knows what his intentions were. He is in compliance with his executive order."
White House Spokesman Tony Fratto
Location: The White House Pressroom
Tony Snow: Good morning. I see we have an overflow crowd today. We
intended to build a bigger press room with more chairs, so will those in
the back please sit in those seats. First of all, the President would
like to send out early birthday wishes to Professor Irwin Corey who will
be 94 next week. Helen...
Helen Thomas: Vice President Cheney is refusing to allow an inspection of
his office by the National Archives' Information Security Oversight
Office. Isn't that a clear contempt of President Bush's own executive
order?
Snow: Oh, I'm sorry, Helen. I intended to call on David.
David Gregory: Helen's question.
Snow: (Sigh) If you actually read the order, the President clearly
intended it to only apply to those he intended it to apply to and not
have it apply to those who he did not intend it to apply to. All of
that, quite intentional.
Gregory: But I did read it and it doesn't exclude the Executive Branch.
Isn't the Executive Branch part of the government?
Snow: Now you're just speaking gibberish. But let's say, for argument's
sake, this (gestures finger quotes) "Executive Branch," as you call it,
is part of the (gestures finger quotes) "government." If that
hypothetical were applied, then sure, the order would apply to the
Executive Branch, but not necessarily to those in the Executive Branch.
Gregory: But when the president says "government," and doesn't exclude
anyone in that government, he'd have to mean all of government, wouldn't
he?
Snow: You're not saying you can read minds, are you David? Because the
only one who can read the President's mind is the President. And he does
so every day after finishing his morning bike ride.
Gregory: But in the President's order, it distinctly mentions any number
of times, that the President and the Vice President fall under this
order.
Snow: He also said we would find WMD in Iraq. Just because we didn't
doesn't mean he didn't intend to find them there. And if that didn't
raise any red flags I don't see why this should be any different. Look.
When the founding father drew up the two branches of government...
Gregory: Three.
Snow: Alright, I'll play your little game. Three. But they didn't intend
to have three. Originally there were only two. The Legislative, which was
intended to approve of every idea the country's king offered - much like
in President Bush's first six years.
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