(Possible) Abramoff/Bush picture from 2001 transition team

[Solly Mack]

Yahoo Search/BBC Archives: Articles during Selection 2000 (through 2001)
&p=Governor+George+Bush&type=jpeg&no=137&tt=2,953&ei=UTF-8



Abramoff - 2005

Where I found the 2005/Abramoff picture.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-16-jack-police_x.htm


They look alike to me - but there's no confirmation since no names were listed with the 2001 (top) picture.

[willing dwarf]

1. Good sleuthing!!

[Solly Mack]

22. Now Bush can find what I searched for - since he's requesting

Google search records. It's in LBN(the story).

Search words: Bush, Abramoff,Assholes

[Cooley Hurd]

2. I'd say it's him...

The hair, ear and mouth all match up. I'd put money on the fact that it's him.:thumbsup:

[0007]

3. That does indeed look like Jack Abramoff

Didn't junior say he never met the man? Or was it he didn't know who he was?

[0007]

7. Who's this guy?

[Solly Mack]

10. Can't recall. I have seen more than a few people comment on

"there has to be a picture", so I went looking.

The WH is pretending that Bush/Abramoff was like Bush/LAy - may have known him - but didn't really "know" him.

[Perky]

4. You folks are obsessed Ha-ha

Look even if this is him....So what?????? You need to put them in a room together one on one. But then still simply meeting is not illegal activity.

The moste that can come this obsessive search is that Mclellan will have to say he was mistaken.... BFD. That is not much of a victory. If you think it is.. then you are missing the bigger picture.

[notadmblnd]

5. and this quest for photos bothers you?

what do you care if someone "wastes" their time looking for the photos on the internet? If you're not interested in the subject.. ignore the damn thread!

[Perky]

6. Lighten up

I was lured in by the Header.

[notadmblnd]

13. I'm sick and tired of people coming here and trying to discourage others

as I asked originally, why does it bother you? Yeah, I didn't think I'd get an answer.

Your little "ha ha" after your subject line and ridiculing the OP. This isn't the first post of yours ridiculing others posts.

[Perky]

20. Ummm ok

But what the post suggested was that to nail the bastard we need more.....much more. Did not suggest that searching for photos is bad just that this is not the proof we need.

[Solly Mack]

21. We definitely need more proof....and this picture isn't really "proof"

without a back story. And that wasn't given - just a picture during the 2001 transition team. We already know he was on the team....the story behind the picture is what we need and confirmation that that is Abramoff.

[Carni]

57. I can't tell if it's him or not

The guy in that photo definitely looks like abracajackoff (I stold that from another Duer BTW) but my fear is that it could also be some beefy SS agent standing behind bushit.

Can you find out what photographer the photo is attributed to and maybe email them for clarification?

[Solly Mack]

74. I'm working on confirmation. I've emailed the BBC

We'll see what comes of it.

[Carni]

79. It's good that it's a BBC photo and not from US controlled media

You may actually get a straight answer!

[RagingInMiami]

32. Meet Perky

[Caretha]

53. I've noticed also

that "This isn't the first post of yours ridiculing others posts."

[npincus]

55. I'm with you-- great work, P.I. Solly Mack

So, the Shrub 'hardly knows' Abramoff... little bits of contradictory evidence such as this photo will add up, eventually, to a mountain to prove the LIE.

[Solly Mack]

75. Thanks, npincus

Still need it confirmed but they do look alike to me.

[Solly Mack]

8. I certainly hope you feel all better about life now

No one said this was a victory - but don't let that get in the way of your self soothing comments.

No one said this proved anything. No one said this meant anything.

But again - don't let what someone didn't say stop you from commenting on what wasn't said.

Cheers :)

[G_j]

9. room or no room

not many people get that close to the pres., and it does not look like a public event.

[Solly Mack]

12. I was wondering if it was the transition office in Virginia

Cheney went ahead and set up one in Virginia since they couldn't use the "official" transition offices until the election was settled.

[bunkerbuster1]

46. I hear that John Kerry hung out with Hanoi Jane!

I sawed the pichers!

[G_j]

48. so you are saying this is photo-shopped? n/t

[bunkerbuster1]

54. oh, no. (not that I know for sure, but...)

I was merely recalling how the Freepers hung on the "evidence" that John Kerry was hanging out with Jane Fonda, when there was one photo showing him in the audience at a rally she attended.

Nowhere near her, and for good measure, the rally photo was snapped well before Fonda had even visited North Vietnam.

My clumsy point was, if this is indeed Jack 'off in the picture with Chimpy, the Freepigs will be falling all over themselves excusing his presence there... when those same Freepigs had been wailing non-stop about John and "Hanoi Jane."

[Solly Mack]

56. I agree. IF it is Abramoff

Freepers will have an excuse as to why they are pictured together....like it was church...and you can't help who goes to church with you.

However, it's not photoshopped - unless the BBC photoshopped it.

[druidity33]

72. that close and...

at his back. Must be a "trusted" individual, otherwise Secret Service never would've let him get BEHIND POTUS.

[Lerkfish]

14. hey, if the BushCO were frantically trying to locate and destory photos

there's a reason for us to try to track them down.

[SidDithers]

27. What, we should get out our umbrellas again?...

what is it with you pissing on this subject? Yes, we get it, you're pessimistic about anything every coming of it.

You've heard the expression about if you can't say anything nice...

Sid

[Caretha]

52. What's the bigger picture?

[Perky]

96. Impeaching the rat basterd

for violating the contitution... A link to Jack-off only serves as a minor "gotcha scotty"

If it ain't impeachable it detracts from what is.

[SpiralHawk]

11. Using sophisticated photo anal-lytic techniques

I am able to discern that Jeff Gannon has been cropped from this image by the BushCo Ministry of Truth and Propaganda.

Further analysis shows that Jack "Speaks with Forked Tongue" Abramoff is impatiently waiting for his gamble with Olde Skull & Boner-in-chief to Pay Off Obscenely.

[Solly Mack]

16. That's some seriously sophisticated equipment you're using

I just sorta thought they looked alike. :)

[liveoaktx]

15. Yes! I blew up that photo and put them side by side

Clearly it's Abramoff

[Solly Mack]

17. I don't know. Just thought they looked alike

Needs to be confirmed.

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. Yup..it's him. Look at the hair, hairline and ear. It's him.

:)

[Solly Mack]

24. You really think so?

I just got a new contact prescription - old age and all that. :)

I think it looks like him, of course. But it could be the "new" eyes.

[ninkasi]

65. It sure looks like him to me

Good sleuthing, Solly Mack. It's worthwhile, IMO, for those of us who can to do a bit of searching, because one thing's for sure, whatever info is out there won't come to light unless we look for it. No harm in trying, is there? They're monitoring Google? I need to go search for Bush wimp, Bush impotent alcoholic, etc.

[G_j]

25. also

the cheekbone and the indentation above the eyebrow'

I would say it is him, though it isn't proof.
I wonder if anyone can recognize the door behind them.

[Solly Mack]

26. Yep - the door is probably known by someone

and that brow....looks the same in both.

[hang a left]

86. His hairline now is more receeded, but it could be

it was taken 5 years ago. He could have lost that much hair since then. It is hard to tell for sure from the angle.

[Straight Shooter]

64. Left eyebrow and hairline and chin look very similar.

Same thing with set of the mouth, lips pressed tightly together. Big beefy neck.

Any method to caliper measure those ears in the photos relative to the size of the fat head?

[Lerkfish]

67. Its pretty darn close, I'll give you that, but...

there's enough reasonable doubt about these areas:

chin pad (transition photo there's a definite diagonal rift in the chin that doesn't appear as though it would occur on the picture on the right, even if he screwed up his face similarly. -- but inconclusive either way.

cheekbone indentation -- newever photo seems to indicate a cheekbone closer to the eye socket... but again, that's inconclusive because of the squint against the sunlight.

however, I think the fact that the administration was frantically trying to locate and photos and (presumably) destroy them indicates whether this photo is the real mccoy or not, there WERE opportunities for photos to have been taken. Obviously, if he truly had 'never met the man" no search would be necessary.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

94. I can see at least one difference

It may be the graininess in the picture with numbnuts, but in the picture on the right Abramoff appears to have detached earlobes, while in the picture on the left, the earlobes appear to be attached. Also, the left-side image shows a left eyebrow that arches up on the outside while the image on the right shows the same eyebrow arching down.

The hairline seems to be the same, but the color is different (although with all the men's hair color products, this doesn't mean a thing).

The chin also appears to be the same shape, but again, the fuzziness of the left-side image makes that hard to judge.

Some definite similarities:

1) The lines on his face are very close to being in the same spots
2) The eyes have the same sort of squint
3) The hairline is very similar
4) The skin tone and color is also very close, taking into account the poor quality of the first photo
5) Both pictures show a man with a thick neck (not conclusive - I know)

I know that there are software applications that can take half a face and complete a full face. That could be compared with the one on the right using one of those face recognition packages to see if the bone structure is close.

[threadkillaz]

95. nah.

That's John Stossel.

;)

[Olney Blue]

18. K and R- the more who see this pic, the better.

It might lead to other photos coming forth from this event that
would help confirm whether this is him.

A picture of Shrub/JA is important because well- a picture is worth a thousand words!!

Thanks, Solly Mack.

[Solly Mack]

19. Welcome!

Thank you, Olney Blue

[Vinca]

28. I wonder if the Brits hate Bush enough to go back through the

archives and connect this picture to the story it went with. It sure resembles Abramoff, but it needs confirmation. I think finding photos of Shrub and Abramoff is a very important thing to do given the White House assertions of "no relationship."

[Solly Mack]

30. I suppose we could ask the BBC about the photo.

They might just find the backstory. The backstory might also be archived somewhere on some web site that's not well known.

[DoYouEverWonder]

33. The story was about Bush's cabinet in waiting

Bush had just announced that he was moving from Crawford to DC to start his transition. It was one his in your face moves has he laid claim to the presidency. It is very likely that Abramoff would have been meeting with Bush in Crawford and DC during this time period.


Cabinet in waiting

As Mr Gore pursues efforts to court public opinion, Governor Bush has been assembling his cabinet, although he has so far stopped short of calling himself president-elect.

George W Bush
He has already set up a transitional team, headed by vice-presidential running mate Dick Cheney.

And his campaign team has moved its operations from the Bush headquarters in Texas, to be closer to the centre of federal government in Washington.

Mr Cheney is seeking private capital to finance the work, after what he called the "regrettable" refusal of the civil service administration to release funds.

The civil service has also refused to give the keys of the transition offices to the Republican team, on the grounds that - three weeks after the vote - there is still no clear presidential winner.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/americas/1046979.stm


BTW: Nice find. Can't make a positive ID but it sure looks like him.

[Solly Mack]

35. Thanks!!!

It does look like him doesn't it?!?!

Thank you again!!!!

It's in the big link somewhere - but I sure wish we could find a story on exactly where it was ...possbily Virginia. Remember that Cheney set up the transition offices in Virginia since they couldn't use the "official" transition offices until after the election was settled.

[DoYouEverWonder]

38. It's definitely not the pig farm

Mmm, VA? I forgot about that one.

[mikelgb]

66. I saw this too..

very disturbing. Proof positive of a coup. Before the presidency was decided they "knew" they were the winners. they were going to take it win or loose.

[madaboutharry]

29. It is him.

It is the same person. I don't know why there is a debate about it.

[Solly Mack]

31. They look the same to me as well

but I wish the picture had come with "names" listed. The added confirmation would help.

[DoYouEverWonder]

36. There's a lot of photos buried in archives from the 2000 election

and this picture gives us a lot of clues. Jack was definitely part of the transition team and so was Roger Stone. I bet they both were hanging around Bush alot during the 'transition'.

[Solly Mack]

39. Yeah - I used 2000, 2001 and transition team for search words

and found other pictures from that time.

[malaise]

42. Good find

check those dinners for Blair as well. YOu never know.

[madaboutharry]

90. Later today:

Guess not!!

[BuyingThyme]

34. Not him.

[Solly Mack]

37. Phew. ...finally

I was waiting. :)

[BuyingThyme]

40. Ears are always a giveaway.

And the hair peninsula on the side is all wrong.

Kinda looks like him though.

[Solly Mack]

41. They still look alike to me

but there's no confirmation - as I've repeatedly stated.

I'd hate to think of Abramoff having a twin - but you know, it's said we start to look like our pets eventually. So maybe the GOP will all start to look like Abramoff.

[G_j]

44. does seem to have that 'pinched' expression in a lot of pics

wish this one was larger

[DoYouEverWonder]

43. The two pics are about 6 years apart

I bet his hairline has receded a bit since then?

I looked at the ears too, but there is not enough info in the Bush pic to tell. I looked at earlier pics of Jack and his ears look different then in the more current photo. Odd. Also, Jack combs his hair at least 3 different ways, so it makes the hairline a little more difficult to discern in such a small image.

[BuyingThyme]

45. He's never had that peninsula.

[Solly Mack]

49. I appreciate your input, BuyingThyme

When it comes to the Bush Regime, all "eyes" are needed to see through to what's there....or what's not there.

Without different perspectives, we'd fall victim to the echo chamber.(and defeat ourselves with our own prejudices)

So I really do mean what I said.

Thank you!

I still say they look alike though. :) (Hey, I couldn't resist)

[BuyingThyme]

51. No thang. I LOVE this kind of stuff.

:hi:

[dryan]

47. Sorry....

folks but I don't think it is the same man.

[Hubert Flottz]

50. Bush's money gathering "POINT MAN"...

"You've Done A Helluva Job Jack!"

[Dunvegan]

58. I'm going to do a Photoshop morph later to see if the skeletal structure..

...holds up.

Meanwhile...here's info from the Washington Post that places Abramoff squarely in the transition team of 2000:

Roll Call reported on March 12, 2001, that "GOP leaders on and off Capitol Hill are organizing a new drive to lean on major corporations and trade associations to hire Republicans for their top lobbying jobs." The article spoke of a "Who's Who of Republican lobbyists" who had held a meeting on the subject the week before. At the top of the list was Jack Abramoff.

Abramoff was always there for his party, with sound bites as well as money. In a May 2, 2001, article in the Hill newspaper (it ran under a wonderful headline: "Lobbyists Approve of Bush's Businesslike Style"), reporter Melanie Fonder noted that "Abramoff said the Bush team's careful and deliberate approach to leadership is the exact opposite of the Clinton team."

This careful judge of what it means to be an "honorable public servant" had reason to prefer the Bush administration's taste in appointees. After the 2000 election, Abramoff was named to the Bush transition team for the Interior Department, which regulates the Indian casinos that paid Abramoff his inflated fees.

"What the Republicans need is 50 Jack Abramoffs," his friend Grover Norquist told National Journal in 1995. "Then this becomes a different town." Norquist got his different town. It's why the place so badly needs cleaning up.

[Solly Mack]

62. You can do that? Neat!!!!

Let us know, please.

Thanks!!

[blm]

59. Yup - that same Joey Buttafuco face.

.

[Solly Mack]

61. LOL!!!

"that same Joey Buttafuco face"

I can see that.

[Sparkle]

60. It looks pretty close!

[skids]

63. kick for more eyes and mouses.

:kick:

[Capn Sunshine]

68. Ever get tired of Bush's fascist salute?

I mean who waves like that unless it's intentional?
All Hail Emperor Corporaticus

[Solly Mack]

81. I'm put off by it

strikes me as contrived

[helderheid]

69. it's him n/t

[CanOfWhoopAss]

70. Probably why the gov't wants Googles records!!

scared to death someone will sniff out the lies about Jack-off.

[Oreo]

71. I was looking earlier too

There HAS to be a picture out there with Abramoff and Bush together. I've restarted my search after seeing this thread. Don't search for Abramoff... search for bush, transition, 2000, 2001 and look in the background



Not him but this is the kind of thing to look for.


And in my opinion... it's not Jack in the OP

[DoYouEverWonder]

80. No but Bush does a nice job

of sticking his elbow in Jenna's face.

[SharonRB]

73. Sure looks like him to me

Good job! Of course, he'll just say -- he was behind me. Do I have eyes in the back of my head?

[Nordmadr]

76. While there are similarities, I would have to say not him. He would

have had some serious hair loss in those 5 years. The guy behind Bush has an almost straight across hairline.

Certainly in no way conclusive though eithr way.

Olafr

[skids]

82. Abramoff is obviously a client...

...of both the hair club for men and weight watchers. Watch his appearance change over time like some kinda creepy shapeshifter:



2002 (as far as I can tell)


Spring 2003


Spring 2005


Summer 2005




Again, summer 2005 -- does he have a body double or just "clean up good"? I'm reminded of that Al Quaida #2 that they ripped out of bed in his long johns looking like Belushi in Animal House.


Anyway this shows the hair peninsula can appear to be there at some angles even recently.

[greiner3]

77. Good one; I'd say it's a match; n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

78. Kick!

[helderheid]

83. Randi Rhodes has the same photo on her webpage.

original story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/world/americas/1046979.stm

[Solly Mack]

85. Yep - that's the story I got it from(the BBC story) - only it was cached

and not the original link.(the one I found)

Doyoueverwonder posted the original story link earlier today.


THANK YOU for posting this!!!!!

Did she confirm it then?

I'm still waiting to hear back from the BBC

[Sydnie]

84. Randi Rhodes says it's HIM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/world/americas/1046979.stm

http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/live/

Good catch!

[Sydnie]

87. From the original article

He has already set up a transitional team, headed by vice-presidential running mate Dick Cheney.

And his campaign team has moved its operations from the Bush headquarters in Texas, to be closer to the centre of federal government in Washington.

Mr Cheney is seeking private capital to finance the work, after what he called the "regrettable" refusal of the civil service administration to release funds.

The civil service has also refused to give the keys of the transition offices to the Republican team, on the grounds that - three weeks after the vote - there is still no clear presidential winner.


------------

So, you need to float a loan to get your coup government up and running? who better to call than the money man himself! Bet that picture helped to nab a few clients, huh?

[Solly Mack]

88. Good to see the photo getting more attention on other sites!

I posted it yesterday to another DU thread and made it into it's own thread today. (Yesterday/Today being Central European Time)as it's tomorrow here. :)

Yesterday's link at after 3 AM on the morning of the 19th (it's the 20th here)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=178978&mesg_id=179038

[Solly Mack]

89. From ThinkProgress. Just a look alike.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/01/19/photo-abramoff-and-bush/

[Sydnie]

91. Randi is now saying it with a big question mark

She thinks it might be a ss agent. :(

[Solly Mack]

92. Well, that's a good thing. Look at it this way. We had no confirmation

on the picture - and now we have more info. That's how information culling works.

People from all over the web took that picture and worked to either prove or disprove if it was actually Abramoff - instead of rushing it to the press.

I like that people worked to confirm or not.

[skids]

93. Yes, it was a great excercise.

And while the trolls and astroturfers rushed in to discredit the photo, they completely took their eye off all the supporting evidence posted to the threads showing that Bush had dealings with Dishonest Abe.

So it worked out well. I'm still only 99.44% convinced by the other photos over there -- I mean Abramoff seems to morph over time as I pointed out above -- but it does look like it was some sort of protection detail, judging from him essentially being in uniform with the guy behind him.