The White House is claiming that their vetting of Bernard Kerik failed because Kerik didn't tell them what they needed to know -- even though their vetting process is "thorough and extensive".
Today's Washington Post:
Current officials dismiss criticism, saying it is virtually impossible to stop candidates from withholding information or lying to White House investigators.
"The vetting process is a thorough and extensive one," McClellan said. "It's a process that looks at all the issues related to the nominee's financial, professional and personal background. It was Commissioner Kerik himself who said this was a matter he should have brought to our attention sooner."
"Should have brought it to our attention" calls to mind one of the great Robin Williams monologues in "Good Morning Vietnam" in which Williams as Adrian Cronauer slips into a slow-witted military intelligence character voice and drones, "We've realized that we're having a very difficult time finding the enemy. We walk up to someone and say, 'Are you the enemy?' And, if they say 'yes', we shoot them."
The Bush administration continues to behave like petulent children. When something goes awry and they're clearly to blame, they huff and puff in protest while repeating, "I didn't do it!" To say their lack of responsibility is reaching childish proportions only serves to insult the integrity of actual children.