[DRB]

Scott McClellan, former press secretary, wrote a book.

What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24848910/

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan writes in a new memoir that the Iraq war was sold to the American people with a sophisticated "political propaganda campaign" led by President Bush and aimed at "manipulating sources of public opinion" and "downplaying the major reason for going to war."

He shortened his Christmas card list with this one.

The book, coming from a man who was a tight-lipped defender of administration aides and policy, is certain to give fuel to critics of the administration, and McClellan has harsh words for many of his past colleagues. He accuses former White House adviser Karl Rove of misleading him about his role in the CIA case. He describes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as being deft at deflecting blame, and he calls Vice President Cheney "the magic man" who steered policy behind the scenes while leaving no fingerprints.

McClellan stops short of saying that Bush purposely lied about his reasons for invading Iraq, writing that he and his subordinates were not "employing out-and-out deception" to make their case for war in 2002.

But in a chapter titled "Selling the War," he alleges that the administration repeatedly shaded the truth and that Bush "managed the crisis in a way that almost guaranteed that the use of force would become the only feasible option."

"Over that summer of 2002," he writes, "top Bush aides had outlined a strategy for carefully orchestrating the coming campaign to aggressively sell the war. . . . In the permanent campaign era, it was all about manipulating sources of public opinion to the president's advantage."

McClellan, once a staunch defender of the war from the podium, comes to a stark conclusion, writing, "What I do know is that war should only be waged when necessary, and the Iraq war was not necessary."

Bush is depicted as an out-of-touch leader, operating in a political bubble, who has stubbornly refused to admit mistakes. McClellan defends the president's intellect -- "Bush is plenty smart enough to be president," he writes -- but casts him as unwilling or unable to be reflective about his job.

"A more self-confident executive would be willing to acknowledge failure, to trust people's ability to forgive those who seek redemption for mistakes and show a readiness to change," he writes.

The former aide describes Bush as a willing participant in treating his presidency as a permanent political campaign, run in large part by his top political adviser, Rove.

"The president had promised himself that he would accomplish what his father had failed to do by winning a second term in office," he writes. "And that meant operating continually in campaign mode: never explaining, never apologizing, never retreating. Unfortunately, that strategy also had less justifiable repercussions: never reflecting, never reconsidering, never compromising. Especially not where Iraq was concerned."

 

[stevew]

Really?

 

[N8 v2.0]

omg!!111

 

[Echo]

Yup, that pretty much sums it up.

 

[ire]

This is all news to me

 

[Silver]

Considering that Scotty was a professional liar, he may not be the best source.

Maybe he's trying to keep himself out of an all expenses paid stay at the Hague if he travels out of the country to someplace slightly civilized?

 

[jimmydean]

I think he may finally get into Heaven after all.

 

[ohio]

Yeah, that makes up for several years of doing as he's told and selling this trillion dollar war, when, as evidenced by his own book, he knew it was morally reprehensible.

"I'm a lying scumbag, but I wrote a book about it so it's okay. It's oh-kay."

 

[jimmydean]

Nice response:

White House aides seemed stunned by the scathing tone of the book, and Bush press secretary Dana Perino issued a statement that was highly critical of their former colleague.

"Scott, we now know, is disgruntled about his experience at the White House," she said. "For those of us who fully supported him, before, during and after he was press secretary, we are puzzled. It is sad - this is not the Scott we knew."

 

[DRB]

Nice response:

Meaning: "Dammit, he stole our thunder. What are we going to write our books about?"

 

[$tinkle]

i find it hard to believe anyone at 1600 penn ave would be "stunned" by anything in this bounded blog. routinely, tomes by former employees are heavily vetted before they are cleared.

 

[JohnE]

Shocked, I am shocked to say the least. I really am having a hard time with this, I am calling into question all that I beleive and hold sacred. To think that a member of the Bush White House would stoop so low as to call into question the CinCs rationale for invading another sovereign nation...simply unfathomable. Whats next, no proof of WMDs??


Who will try to save his/her soul next? I bet its Condi...

 

[jimmydean]

I'm a little more surprised by the fact that it was released WHILE Bush is sitting in office.

Granted, the book points out how little he actually does, but still these things used to be after-the-fact. I guess it will increase sales, though.

 

[Silver]

Yeah, that makes up for several years of doing as he's told and selling this trillion dollar war, when, as evidenced by his own book, he knew it was morally reprehensible.

"I'm a lying scumbag, but I wrote a book about it so it's okay. It's oh-kay."

Y'know, Hitler's secretary (if you've ever seen Downfall, she's the old woman at the beginning and the end) seemed to feel guilt about what had happened, and her minor role in it, even though she was much younger and much more out of the loop than Scotty was.

Of course, at least 100,000 dead mud people isn't that much to lose sleep over, right? I gotta go clear some brush...

 

[$tinkle]

I gotta go clear some brush...

just what RM needs: another junk shaving thread

 

[moff_quigley]

just what RM needs: another junk shaving thread

RM really could use a good junk shaving thread.

 

[MMike]

I still prefer to wax.

The pain is exquisite.

 

[Jeremy R]

This just in:

Dolly Parton's secretary says she has ginormous jugs.

 

[jimmydean]

I still prefer to wax.

The pain is exquisite.

They don't call it "Nads" for nothing. Nair is best.

 

[TheMontashu]

What shocks, and bothers me far more than the government lying is the lack of public outrage. I mean with 4000 young people dead, and a multi trillion dollar debt. But hey when NBC stands to directly profit from the war its going to be hard to get good coverage (they are owned by GE who is one of the largest contractors involves in iraq) People in this country will eventually wise up when **** gets bad enough, my worry is how bad are things going to get before that happens?

 

[stevew]

What shocks, and bothers me far more than the government lying is the lack of public outrage. I mean with 4000 young people dead, and a multi trillion dollar debt. But hey when NBC stands to directly profit from the war its going to be hard to get good coverage (they are owned by GE who is one of the largest contractors involves in iraq)

liberals profiting from war?

you're crazy.

 

[$tinkle]

liberals profiting from war?

interesting observation.
if bush & co. weren't so divisive, there would be a bumper crop of out-of-work liberal writers, cable news hosts, & columnists.

if i didn't know better...

 

[moff_quigley]

They don't call it "Nads" for nothing. Nair is best.

The label expressly prohibits the use of these products on one's junk? Lies?

 

[H8R]

There is not a single person in the Bush admin, past or present, with a single shred of soul or conscience. This is false redemption.

He's not sorry, he's a heartless fvck who likes to stab people in the back even more than he liked lying to the public.

I hope he rots in the Hell of Fanged Penises.

 

[H8R]

The label expressly prohibits the use of these products on one's junk? Lies?

I just cover a chair with double sided carpet tape.

1. Sit
2. Get up quick
3. Repeat

 

[stevew]

interesting observation.
if bush & co. weren't so divisive, there would be a bumper crop of out-of-work liberal writers, cable news hosts, & columnists.

Side work writing fluff pieces for obama doesn't pay well?

They could take turns carrying him around on their shoulders at his coronation ceremony.

 

[sanjuro]

I doubt this book is about redemption. I actually do not care what McClellan's motives are, whether is he hopes to join the Democratic party or make a bunch of dough.

Revealing the inner workings of the Bush White House reinforces my opinion about the lies generated by the President, and will hopefully derail the Republican presidential campaign (doubt it though. McCain is more honest than Bush).

 

[TheMontashu]

I doubt this book is about redemption. I actually do not care what McClellan's motives are, whether is he hopes to join the Democratic party or make a bunch of dough.

Revealing the inner workings of the Bush White House reinforces my opinion about the lies generated by the President, and will hopefully derail the Republican presidential campaign (doubt it though. McCain is more honest than Bush).

No he isn't he is a lying douche, just like all of them. F the democrats, F the republicans. There the same damn thing, 1 side thinks its OK for gays to get married and wants to take away my guns, the other hates gays and loves guns.

 

[H8R]

There the same damn thing, 1 side thinks its OK for gays to get married and wants to take away my guns, the other hates gays and loves guns.

...and you just want to be gay and well armed in peace.

 

[jimmydean]

...and you just want to be gay and well armed in peace.

I think he needs a hug.

 

[Serial Midget]

Kiss and tell politics is almost as good as reality TV... I'm spending the next week glued to cable vision.

 

[JohnE]

Thats a disturbing mental image none of us needed...

 

[MMike]

"If Scott had such deep misgivings, he should not have accepted the press secretary position as a matter of principle," Fleischer said.

Well Ari is right about this.......

 

[sanjuro]

All seemed to take their cues from Dana Perino, the current press secretary. Ms. Perino used the words “sad” and “puzzled” to describe the White House response, as if Mr. McClellan had undergone some kind of emotional breakdown, while making the case that if Mr. McClellan had problems with Mr. Bush he should have raised them while in the president’s employ.

I cannot give me reaction if a Clinton staffer had criticized Bill during his term of office. However, I hate Bush, so I do not wonder about McClellan's motives, but rather I am glad that someone is talking about Bush.

As for whether he should have not accepted the job or voice his opinion, there are a lot of jobs I've been at which I said nothing. It was not place to comment since I was not management, and I did my job until I could leave. Like McClellan just did.

 

[$tinkle]

As for whether he should have not accepted the job or voice his opinion, there are a lot of jobs I've been at which I said nothing. It was not place to comment since I was not management, and I did my job until I could leave. Like McClellan just did.

as mmike wrote, he shouldn't have taken the gig for so long if he never intended on saying something

however...

reality often trumps best practices, but is far less accepted in an accountable position of public service. funny how those people categorically excuse mcclellan out of deference for bush derision.

at the end of the day, it's all gossip & inside the beltway nattering

 

[N8 v2.0]

as mmike wrote, he shouldn't have taken the gig for so long if he never intended on saying something

however...

reality often trumps best practices, but is far less accepted in an accountable position of public service. funny how those people categorically excuse mcclellan out of deference for bush derision.

at the end of the day, it's all gossip & inside the beltway nattering

it's all about makin' a buck...

fleecing Bush H8Rs is always approved.

Chaaaa-ching!

 

[ohio]

it's all about makin' a buck...

fleecing Bush H8Rs is always approved.

Chaaaa-ching!

I reckon it's more about clearing a conscience and trying (failing) to absolve himself of responsibility.

Hard to hold it against him... I mean, he was just following orders.

 

[$tinkle]

I reckon it's more about clearing a conscience and trying (failing) to absolve himself of responsibility.

Hard to hold it against him... I mean, he was just following orders.

and he couldn't even do that well...

edit: also this

 

[sanjuro]

as mmike wrote, he shouldn't have taken the gig for so long if he never intended on saying something

however...

reality often trumps best practices, but is far less accepted in an accountable position of public service. funny how those people categorically excuse mcclellan out of deference for bush derision.

at the end of the day, it's all gossip & inside the beltway nattering

I am always interested in the truth, especially when there is active attempts at deception and cover-up.

I would have loved to hear from a White House insider about the Monica Lewinsky scandal or the Iran Hostage situation in the 70's, as well as Iran-Contra affair and the current Iraqi war.

I think the problem that the White House ultimately has is a loyalty test. Bush has hired less than qualified people (see Alberto Gonzales) who were loyal. McClellan, who did his job as press secretary well, has failed his loyalty test, and there is a huge backlash.

 

[Silver]

Hard to hold it against him... I mean, he was just following orders.

Befehl ist Befehl...