"The collapse of the administration’s rationales for war, which became apparent months after our invasion, should never have come as such a surprise. … In this case, the ‘liberal media’ didn’t live up to its reputation. If it had, the country would have been better served.”
Politico got an exclusive on former Bush press secretary Scott McClellan's damning new book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception.
• McClellan charges that Bush relied on “propaganda” to sell the war.
• He says the White House press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to the war.
• He admits that some of his own assertions from the briefing room podium turned out to be “badly misguided.”
• The longtime Bush loyalist also suggests that two top aides held a secret West Wing meeting to get their story straight about the CIA leak case at a time when federal prosecutors were after them — and McClellan was continuing to defend them despite mounting evidence they had not given him all the facts.
• McClellan asserts that the aides — Karl Rove, the president’s senior adviser, and I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the vice president’s chief of staff — “had at best misled” him about their role in the disclosure of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.
Sounds like his lawyer gave him a list of different ways to say " I lied."
I really wish people would not buy this book. He wants to make money on a career spent being "misled" and "misguided." Ick.
Posted by: sparky | May 27, 2008 at 09:41 PM
I hope they buy it. Just one more damning indictment of this administration.
But, people like chucks, putsie, duh-ff, baart, and all the other sheeple will cry and whine about the "liberal media" and how McClelland has joined in. Easier than facing the truth.
Besides, they really don't want to stop the killing of innocent Iraqis. Acknowledging such an admission could make even evil hearts weep.
War, war, war, war, war. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.
Feel better now boys?
Posted by: joanie hussein | May 27, 2008 at 09:54 PM
The subject matter sounds mainly believable. Perhaps comparable to what Dick Morris wrote about Clinton in some ways and in other ways not.
There is some damning evidence about the Bush Administration, but I'd have to say that I would tend to believe a good portion of what I have heard about as it is consistent with other accounts, who are more middle of the road. I would agree that the decision to go into Iraq was a serious strategic blunder. The one thing I am dubious about are his motives - he is lamenting about being misled, ad nauseum and is out to make money. Bottom line: The Bush Administration needs to be vetted.
Posted by: KS | May 27, 2008 at 10:07 PM
The subject matter sounds mainly believable. Perhaps comparable to what Dick Morris wrote about Clinton in some ways and in other ways not.
There is some damning evidence about the Bush Administration, but I'd have to say that I would tend to believe a good portion of what I have heard about as it is consistent with other accounts, who are more middle of the road. I would agree that the decision to go into Iraq was a serious strategic blunder. The one thing I am dubious about are his motives - he is lamenting about being misled, ad nauseum and is out to make money. Bottom line: The Bush Administration needs to be vetted.
Posted by: KS | May 27, 2008 at 10:08 PM
You know, KS, it took a long, long time but you are one of the few on this blog to actually let facts sink into your brain and produce some independent thoughts.
I wonder if you'll ever come around to the other obvious environmental condition we face: global warming?
Posted by: joanie hussein | May 27, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Isn't interesting that when this McClellan news comes out, ABC suddenly has an exclusive that "Al Qaeda is about to attack with WMD's?"
Drudge has it in red.
What timing.
Posted by: Ray Jingardon | May 27, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Typical drudge: all headline and no story.
Posted by: joanie hussein | May 27, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Scott McClellan is a weathervane, writing a tell all that doesn't tell much that panders to the prevailing attitude at this sweet spot in the timeline when the administration is at its most hated and yet still relevant. Had he released this book a few months later nobody would care.
If you take his account as fact it just proves he loves himself more than his country. This book serves as a catalogue of the disinformation and personal disrespect he put up with for no other reason than he wanted to keep his job. Atleast Dick Cheney can write in his memoirs that he believed he was serving the common good with whatever sick twisted logic he can come up with.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | May 27, 2008 at 11:47 PM
"I wonder if you'll ever come around to the other obvious environmental condition we face: global warming?"
Correctly, it should be referred to as global climate change because parts of the earth are cooling and the jury is out as to how the thermal trends on Earth will appear in 5-10 years. Recent trends suggest there may be cooling due to less sunspot activity recently. Furthermore, I will waiting until Al Gore debates the Czech President. C'mon Al - do it for the children...
While what McClellan said in his book could well be mostly true, I am not in admiration of the way he did it in a backstabbing way. I'd like to see him be subject to a lie detector test about the controversial stuff, as should all the authors of books like this, going back to Kitty Kelly.
Funny, McClellan stated that he admired some aspects about Bush-43 after exposing the dirt. One of thing that he wrote that I could see was that Bush was not inquisitive (i.e. not curious), clearly not a trademark of an effective leader.
Posted by: KS | May 28, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Good stuff as usual KS.
Don't be alarmed by Joanie seeing the light. Even a stopped clock is correct twice a day.
Posted by: PugetSound | May 28, 2008 at 07:50 PM
To correct my previous grammar -
" I will wait until Al Gore debates the Czech President.".
Part of me agrees with Sparky's initial post...
Posted by: KS | May 28, 2008 at 08:33 PM
To correct my previous grammar -
" I will wait until Al Gore debates the Czech President.".
Part of me agrees with Sparky's initial post...
Posted by: KS | May 28, 2008 at 08:34 PM
I guess the same kind of 'betrayal' existed shortly after Nixon was exposed for all he was and the books came out then. I expect to be hearing more of these disaster accounts that is the failed Bush presidency.
Posted by: GOBAMA | May 28, 2008 at 09:34 PM
While what McClellan said in his book could well be mostly true, I am not in admiration of the way he did it in a backstabbing way.
well, when you can't attack the message, try attacking the messenger.
Posted by: joanie hussein | May 29, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Yes, for gawds sakes,he should've waited for Bush to move to Paraguay. The audacity of Mc Clelland to write a book now while people have attention spans is scathing, I tell you! There should be a brain scan or something at the exit interviews of outgoing WH staff to determine if they will publish a book while the president is still in office. This has got to stop!
Posted by: J.Hova | May 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM
or, geez, not have published it at all. After all, weren't they friends? What are friends for if not to keep lies, criminal acts and propaganda secret?
Posted by: joanie hussein | May 29, 2008 at 11:31 PM
So, how much did George Soros pay for this book and what did he require be in it?
Posted by: chucks | May 30, 2008 at 09:31 AM
McClellan's book does seem to have an element of truth in it. Most people know that Bush was weak, inept, a one-worlder and a neo-con. The problem is that Scott McClellan is very dysfunctional and a mediocre press secretary and has been corrupted by the progressive left, as the publisher is part of the George Soros slime machine and he was paid some big money for this political gain for the Democratic nominee. When he gets interviewed by that clown anarchist Olberman, that is when the messenger deserves to stunned by phasers and kicked up side the head to regain his senses.
Integrity matters to me ahead of partisan politics and that is where Joanie and I differ. Do the ends justify the means ? In the "Lord of the Flies" world and the world of the progressives - controlled by puppetmeister Soros, it sure as hell does.
Posted by: KS | May 30, 2008 at 09:26 PM
" What are friends for if not to keep lies, criminal acts and propaganda secret?
Posted by: joanie hussein | May 29, 2008 at 11:31 PM"
KS
You know that Joanie has a perverted sense of 'friends.'
After all, she has been on this website admonishing her fellow dems not to be honest in their feelings towards Obama or Clinton lest it may give the right ammunition.
Posted by: PugetSound | May 30, 2008 at 09:32 PM
The bigger question. Will Joanie take the Duffman challenge and wade into the deep waters at Sound Politics.
Posted by: PugetSound | May 30, 2008 at 09:34 PM
PugetSound, why don't you post on DailyKos, Firedoglake, HorsesAss or Jesus' General? Why is NOT posting on YOUR favorite website an act of cowardice?
Posted by: RedmondDem | May 30, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Nice try, but I am already coming over here which is a local liberal website. That is the whole point of the Duffman Challenge. Going to another local website that is set up against your natural comfort zone.
Of the above, only HA would qualify as such and this liberal website is better organized with topics I like to comment on.
Sorry that Duffman's observations have hit so close to home.
So should we mark you down as not being ready for the Duffman Challenge?
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Oh, I see. It has to be a LOCAL blog to show your True Courage. It cannot be a blog where more than 10-20 people post. Small pond, big frog. I get it.
Posted by: RedmondDem | May 31, 2008 at 10:06 AM
It's all about Duffman. lol His honor was impugned.
Posted by: The Blog that ate Cincinnati | May 31, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Actually, local blogs are more interesting. Kind of like local radio. If you think it is soooo easy why don't you head over to Sound Politics and post some of your views. It will be very interactive. I see that someone who sounds a lot like Joanie posted yesterday on the McClelland topic but quickly pulled a skedaddle when asked to elucidate a bit.
But hey, Redmond Dem if you want to stay a small intellectual fish in a small pond you should stay here. I come over here to see what the other side has to offer and you should want to expand your mind a bit by checking out what is being said. Helps to open up the mind.
Over at SP you may find that the water runs a little deeper and the currents are little quicker than your appetite allows.
So we can safely say at this point you won't take the Duffman Challenge? Or will you?
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 01:48 PM
For some reason, Pugetsound, I just don't feel the need to meet your "standards". Or Duffboy's for that matter. But you two go have fun.
Posted by: RedmondDem | May 31, 2008 at 02:39 PM
I understand.
Stay in the shallow end.
It gets rather choppy when you have to consider things in depth.
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Denver, Denver, Denver....
Good stuff today.
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Wow, two of the clips -courtesy FireDogLake- from your Dem National Rules Committee. If this is the level of anger, the Dems have a whole lot of healing to do.
A Ferroro-esque Hillary Supporter
ClintonSupporterElderlyTeacherRoughedUp
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Obama must read this blog because he did the Joanie Skeddadle today.
Posted by: nevets | May 31, 2008 at 09:08 PM
And the Lib party, a party in turmoil now sees the citizens of both Forida and Michigan as half of citizens. They would have been better served to keep them out of Denver instead of insulting them like this.
Posted by: nevets | May 31, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Oh yeah, I think that the folks of Florida and Michigan will remember how they got treated by the Dems.
I watched the show today and the Dems tried to lay it off on the Republicans for how screwed up this was.
They failed to point out that every freakin Dem legilstor in Florida voted to move up the primary. So everyone was on board.
It was great TV.
Nevets, I am guessing that Denver for the Dem Convention will be a hoot!
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 09:21 PM
For anyone that thinks this is going to the convention in any meaningful way, look at the pathetically small size of the pro-Clinton demonstrations outside the hotel in DC today. Tens of thousands had been promised. A few hundred showed up. Clinton’s convocatory power for those kinds of shenanigans is already done.
I feel sort of bad for the real Clinton supporters who will be lumped in with with these idiots getting their 15 minutes of fame on cable TV.
Posted by: sparky | May 31, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Yes it should.
H ussein
O bama
P resident
E lect
The big question is whether Hillary will keep at it til then or bow out after Hussein gets to the magic number. Maybe she has a few more surprises that will change some of these delegates minds. Should be fun to watch.
Posted by: nevets | May 31, 2008 at 09:57 PM
When tempers cool it will be interesting how many of her supporters may decide just to not support anyone.
Realistically I think most will support Obama. But there will be a ticked off percentage that won't like how this went down. Especially the people in Florida and Michigan. We'll see. The Repubs ironically are doing the same thing but the ire of the voters from Fl and MI isn't as intense.
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 10:00 PM
A few hundred, thats good compared to the 70% of the population that showed up at the anti-war protests. Hillary should be a shoo-in with them numbers.
Posted by: nevets | May 31, 2008 at 10:01 PM
But the Clintons know the stakes are big. You heard media types state that this was no longer Clinton's party. It is Obama's party. That has to hurt.
We'll see. Even when Kerry was the nominee you always sensed it was still Clinton's party.
Posted by: PugetSound | May 31, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Speaking of indictments, this is a good read too..
The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder
by Vincent Bugliosi
Posted by: J.Hova | May 31, 2008 at 11:41 PM
New Calif poll out:
Dems Now Favor Obama Over Clinton
http://cbs13.com/politics/california.
democrats.obama.2.737291.html
Doesn't look good for all those insane McCain supporters hoping for a riot.
Posted by: J.Hova | May 31, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Obama and his rabi supporters such as a few on this blog like Hussein and folks like the black racist and buffoon Ray Taliaferro are caught up in this magical thinking that their big phony Obama will sweep the nation in the fall with his tremendous "charisma". haah The power of Obama's charisma ended about the same time that his campaign rally fainting spells were exposed. I now beleive they were revival tent type frauds, mainly because they suspiciously stopped after exposure. No candidate in history has won the nomination without winning a single big state outside his home state. Obama will lose in Ohio and Florida and Pennsylvania, and of course many others, but those three states alone wil deny him an electoral college victory. The angry Clinton voters will not "get over it" and come back to the party- they will vote for McCain. The superdelegates simply don't have the guts to buck the pressure from the blacks who are desperate to have their black president regardless of how many hateful racists,former violent Weathermen and gangsters Obama associates with. Obama's campaign was the one that played the race card all the way as a deliberate, cynical strategy. Enjoy your time from now until nomination night, Obamanites- after that time you will not enjoy what you see, as your hero is exposed for the racist phony he is and McCain outclasses him in every way.
Posted by: Tommy008 | June 01, 2008 at 08:28 AM
"Speaking of indictments, this is a good read too..
The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder
by Vincent Bugliosi
Posted by: J.Hova | May 31, 2008 at 11:41 PM"
Hey J Hova, I'll give it a read. He just put out the 1800 page magnum opus on the JFK Assassination in which he demonstrates it was Oswald who did it and the conspiracy theories are crap so I am surprised he had time to put out another thoughtful book.
Should be interesting to read about it.
Posted by: PugetSound | June 01, 2008 at 08:31 AM
"Dems now favor Obama over Clinton in Calif" the polls before the Cali primaries had Obama leading Clinton. this is news?
Posted by: Tommy008 | June 01, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Hey Tommy 008, et al.
Does anyone believe that even when the Clinton's give up the ghost for 2008 that they won't be looking immediately for 2012? They will give lip service to Obama winning but in reality want him to fail. Clintonistas -the hardcore types- will be heading back to the mountains to regroup and await further orders from El Supremo.
Clinton endgame: They would rather go against a then 75 year old McCain in 2012, coming off a third term of Repub Whitehouse rule as the Dem nominee. They would also be able to stave off any real Dem challenger by pointing to 08 and saying 'see, you should have nominated us instead of Obama. We told you he couldn't win. Now get behind us.' And the Dems will fall in line.
Posted by: PugetSound | June 01, 2008 at 08:56 AM
exactly,PSound. Hillary is probably setting up 2012 with Buill as we type. Shw will bw elevated to a real star when she is vindicated in Novemeber; especially if the loss is an electoral train wreck which is a real possibioity. I believe the pubs have some real October surprises stored up fro the big phony Windy City Windbag. Also in 2012, Hillary will have those extra couple inches of stature and real experience that she seems to need. Mcain most likely will step down in 2012 and relinqiush the nomination to who- Romney? Huckabee? Give me a break. Romney isn't good, but he's not THAT bad, but because of the reliGIOUS bigotry of the Christian right he will never get nominated as a Mormon. He would be their candidate right now if not fo rthe big M.
Posted by: Tommy008 | June 01, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Sounds like the GOP has it's problems, chief among these, getting McCain elected this year.
Posted by: J.Hova | June 01, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Hussein, watching CNN, stands and cheers, wearing her Obama rally cap, as she watches elderly women for Clinton being manhandledd out of the DNC meeting by the "big boys"- hired goons brought in by Obama-controlled party leadership thugs. DENVER! DENVER! DENVER!
Posted by: Tommy008 | June 01, 2008 at 11:16 AM