It's time for another edition of Smiling Through Terror Talk! with your host, Scott McClellan!

transcript | video

You can play along at home by taking a sip of your drink every time Scott says "protocols!"

Two sips for passive language!

Three sips for invoking September 11th!

If you want to skip ahead to the lightning round:

QUESTION: I think there's a disconnect here because, I mean, yesterday you had more than 30,000 people who were evacuated, you had millions of people who were watching this on television, and there was a sense at some point -- it was a short window, a 15-minute window, but there was a sense of confusion among some on the streets. There was a sense of fear. And people are wondering was this not a moment for the President to exercise some leadership, some guidance during that period of time? Was this not a missed opportunity for the President to speak out and at least clarify what -- that he was informed, and what was taking place at that time? If not even during the 15-minute window, why not later in the day?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President did lead, and the President did that after September the 11th when we put the protocols in place to make sure that situations like this were addressed before it was too late. And that was the case -- that was the case in this situation. And in terms of during this time, this was a matter of minutes when this was occurring. And all the appropriate security personal and Homeland Security officials and others were acting to implement those protocols. And we commend all those that worked to follow those protocols and make sure that this situation was addressed. And it worked, in terms of the protocols.

A good reporter, of course, follows up quickly and tries to move the subject away from hypotheticals, from the abstract, and get into the specifics of the situation. To get beyond the hypothetical "protocols."

QUESTION: Beyond the protocols here, I mean we're talking about just simply demonstrating to the American people, I understand what's taking place, we're in control of the situation, and I've been apprised of what is happening here -- because there were thousands of people involved in what was a very scary moment.

Scott will not be moved.

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and we briefed you about the circumstances of the event shortly after that. But during that time period, it's important in those minutes when this is occurring, that everybody is focused on making sure the people in the area of the threat are protected, and there are protocols in place to make sure that the people in the area of the threat are protected. Those protocols were followed. You all covered this on the coverage last night and pointed out how those protocols were followed and how jets were scrambled. This was an instance where presidential authority was not required because we had put these protocols in place after September 11th.

Really, the guy is a genius. He never answers the question, just says that same three talking points over and over and over again. And seems eager to say the same three talking points over and over and over again without answering the question. I've said it before: it seems like he's in over his head, but really, he's exactly the robot that the position calls for.

April Ryan's take is my personal favorite. She brings to light that for all the talk of protocols and preparedness, there was no intercom alert in the White House press room. Just an e-mail alert. An e-mail! Which, as she points out, sucks for you if you're not at your desk at the time.

She also points out that the Cessna got much closer to the White House than the "within three miles" talking point implies.

How's that for protocol and preparedness in a post-September 11th world?

Again, for your convenience:

transcript | video

Say it ain't so

Here's MSNBC's badge-of-honor conservative Joe Scarborough with his take on the whole thing.

After I watched [Fahrenheit] 9/11, one of the parts that made me the angriest was the part about "'My Pet Goat." I thought it was a cheap shot. I said, seven, eight, nine minutes, big deal. But here you have an attack going on - or something most Americans thought was an attack - for 15, 20, 30 minutes and the president of the United States not notified. Why?

So Joe concludes:

If the President of the United States cannot have his bike ride interrupted to learn of a possible terror attack on Washington, then he is not fit to lead this country in its war on terror.

Say it ain't so, "Regular" Joe.

Joe, remember just two years ago, when it was absolutely "un-American" to question the president's leadership in the so-called war on terror?

And today you're wondering aloud if the president even had a plan in place to protect his own house, a primary target on September 11th. Let alone the nation. Let alone our troops overseas.

So Joe: maybe you owe Danny Glover an apology?

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