Note to Self

Answering a question with a question is one way of not answering a question. I used to cover a sheriff who did that almost all the time.
"Now why would I do that," he'd say and hope I didn't notice he hadn't said anything.

The police chief would just say "I'm not going to answer that."

Another source would say, "I don't respond to rumors."



As in:

“I don't know why on Aug. 19, we’d decide on something that's going to happen in September or October that the possibility is only 51 votes,” Gibbs said.

 He was talking about a health care reform vote by reconciliation, and maybe he is saying "I'm not going to tell you until the time is right."