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McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush

by BooMan
Tue May 27th, 2008 at 09:25:47 PM EST

The Politico gets a pretty huge scoop.

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a surprisingly scathing memoir to be published next week that President Bush “veered terribly off course,” was not “open and forthright on Iraq,” and took a “permanent campaign approach” to governing at the expense of candor and competence.

Go read the whole thing. The most explosive revelation is that McClellan thinks he was a witness to an obstruction of justice carried out between Scooter Libby and Karl Rove.

“There is only one moment during the leak episode that I am reluctant to discuss,” he writes. “It was in 2005, during a time when attention was focusing on Rove and Libby, and it sticks vividly in my mind. … Following [a meeting in Chief of Staff Andy Card’s office], … Scooter Libby was walking to the entryway as he prepared to depart when Karl turned to get his attention. ‘You have time to visit?’ Karl asked. ‘Yeah,’ replied Libby.
“I have no idea what they discussed, but it seemed suspicious for these two, whom I had never noticed spending any one-on-one time together, to go behind closed doors and visit privately. … At least one of them, Rove, it was publicly known at the time, had at best misled me by not sharing relevant information, and credible rumors were spreading that the other, Libby, had done at least as much.
“The confidential meeting also occurred at a moment when I was being battered by the press for publicly vouching for the two by claiming they were not involved in leaking Plame’s identity, when recently revealed information was now indicating otherwise. … I don’t know what they discussed, but what would any knowledgeable person reasonably and logically conclude was the topic? Like the whole truth of people’s involvement, we will likely never know with any degree of confidence.”

Of course, nothing can be proved, but we know what happened.

McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

He's still being a punk (4.00 / 5)

He's a grown fucking man and he's still not taking responsibility for his actions. He paints himself as this bucket just waiting to be filled up with information, but gosh oh golly, so much of that info was wrong. How the hell can over 50M people see through the lies of the WH, but the person on the inside with access is just stunned that some of the info given him was probably just a teensy be incorrect. He's a fucking weasel.

~~~THIS SPACE FOR RENT~~~

by fabooj (fabooj [at} mail [dot} com) on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 10:27:22 PM EST

Re: He's still being a punk (none / 0)

He doesn't want to burn ALL his bridges.

Oh, there you are, Perry. -Phineas -SLB-

by boran2 (blogistan@yahoo.com) on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 10:48:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: He's still being a punk (none / 0)

Exactly. And I still think he was paying Guckert for some overtime.

by BooMan on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 11:30:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: He's still being a punk (none / 0)

there's one tidbit that's bound to feed sales of this book-like no other: the coke thingy as in ya know.

McClellan tracks Bush's penchant for self-deception back to an overheard incident on the campaign trail in 1999 when the then-governor was dogged by reports of possible cocaine use in his younger days.
The book recounts an evening in a hotel suite "somewhere in the Midwest." Bush was on the phone with a supporter and motioned for McClellan to have a seat.
"'The media won't let go of these ridiculous cocaine rumors,' I heard Bush say. 'You know, the truth is I honestly don't remember whether I tried it or not. We had some pretty wild parties back in the day, and I just don't remember.'"
"I remember thinking to myself, How can that be?" McClellan wrote. "How can someone simply not remember whether or not they used an illegal substance like cocaine? It didn't make a lot of sense."
Bush, according to McClellan, "isn't the kind of person to flat-out lie."
"So I think he meant what he said in that conversation about cocaine. It's the first time when I felt I was witnessing Bush convincing himself to believe something that probably was not true, and that, deep down, he knew was not true," McClellan wrote. "And his reason for doing so is fairly obvious -- political convenience."[.]
(highlights added)

Hmmmm. WoW WOW.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 10:21:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: He's still being a punk (none / 0)

well, Bush isn't a lab technician. Stuff could have been crank.

by BooMan on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 10:29:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: He's still being a punk (none / 0)

(Excuse for bush(cause I care so much about him)) he could have been in blackout stage of drunk so he can't remember anything he did,. but no I doubt it cause I think he was a habitual user from all that I have read.

Let me add my thanks here to Scott, "thanks for waiting to tell the truth. We were really fine with your lying to us day after day, cause we knew someday you would write this book and all would be well." Still I do like that the truth has made it to print.
I wonder if Waxman will have Scott in for a hearing.

Click here to step into the Village Blue2

by diane101 (dianed101 @ yahoo.com) on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 11:58:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: He's still being a punk (none / 0)

Republican men aren't "grown fucking men" until they reach 40. As one Senator called it anything that occurred before he was 40 is a "youthful indiscretion". Because were cussing...Scotty is just another stupid fuck writing a book about how much of a stupid fuck he was..just like Tenet, and Vice Royal Bremer.

by americanforliberty on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 12:51:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: He's still being a punk (none / 0)

So, Scotty joins the despicable cry-baby Colin Powell in the "I was deceiiiiiiiiiiiiived" whine fest. Give me a break!

Can NO ONE take responsibility anymore?!

Scott McClellan collected big bucks and enjoyed being at the centers of power by taking the job of Chief White House Professional Liar, and unlike Ari Fleischer, he wasn't even very good at lying convincingly. It was OBVIOUS when he was lying that he KNEW he was lying and was uncomfortable with it (Ari, on the other hand, was enough of a sociopath that he was at least as comfortable lying as he was telling the truth - that's what that job calls for). And now he can't even be honest and say that he knew what he was spouting every day was, at best, questionable, and at times a flat lie. Nooooooooo! He has to play the deceived innocent.

Happy to see him finally telling the truth, but I would LOVE once, just ONCE, to see one of those liars, thieves and mass murderers openly admit to their misdeeds.

by Hurria (Muslawia@gmail.com) on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 03:34:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 1)

Apparently Fox News does not 'know what happened'.

Because today they asked Rove to explain what McClennan was taking about.

Rove explained that McClennan was wrong.

nalbar

by nalbar (nalbarsatgmaildotcom) on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 09:58:14 PM EST

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

Where is Fitz?

A few got away with high crimes.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 10:25:18 PM EST

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

The whole Fitz mania turned out to be quite a dud!

by Quentin on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 09:07:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

Ruh-oh seems Scooty has it in for Miss Piggy Rove.......
They should all rot!

by gaiilonfong on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 10:48:37 PM EST

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

scotty's trying to sell books, he can claim innocence till hell freezes over, but he' s complicit in treason...you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig, eh.

the revolution will not be televised...

by dada on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 10:59:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

Thanks. What a relief, someone has said it. I'm sure Bush is peeing himself because this slimeball has unkind words for him, and I'm sure the same slimeball will have a more violent reaction when he hears that I have equally unkind words for both of them. He speaks now as if he has undergone a major spiritual conversion. He's only trying to cover his fat ass in the event that his revered boss ever ends up in court. No dice. No way can he even make himself look anywhere as good as a pig with lipstick!

by Quentin on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 09:06:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

my bad I meant Scotty!

by gaiilonfong on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 10:49:07 PM EST

we have found in interesting (none / 0)

what rove has said on fox tonight. the wheel isn't empty.

I AM living in interesting times.

by greenbird on Tue May 27th, 2008 at 11:36:51 PM EST

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

He accuses Bush of "downplaying the major reason for going to war." Is he saying what we think he's saying? Does anyone know if he spells it out specifically?

by RollaMO on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 09:52:12 AM EST

WTF good is this now, Scottie (none / 0)

I don't know about everyone else but having another enabler, co-conspirator and propagandist for this criminal administration publicly pronouncing their sudden and unexpected epiphany just about the time their book hits the shelves serves only to stoke the rage.

Scott McClellan might be a nice guy and all. But after watching him for years, spreading what was known by millions to be lies and pure propaganda, I can only think of one apt descriptor; Grade-A opportunistic asshole.

If he is so damn concerned about the potential criminality in which he was a willing participant, then do your penance Scott by testifying, under oath, to the allegations. Help right the wrongs that you helped to perpetuate. Do your civic duty as an American by helping bring criminals to justice.

Isn't that the definition of patriotism?

Or this just all about selling books?

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity"

by MikeInOhio on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 09:53:37 AM EST

Re: WTF good is this now, Scottie (none / 0)

Mike in Ohio you ask pertinent but nasty questions. Now do you actually think that Republican riff raff like McClellan give a rat's ass about patriotism or honesty for that matter? They are truly a national disgrace and should do public penance both in Washington, and, especially, in Bagdad.

Think of the millions of Iraqi who have been deeply affected by their elementary dishonesty. I am so ashamed that scoundrels like Bush and company have been elected twice to national office. How can anyone, anymore, sincerely sing "God bless America"?

Suppose you scrub your ethical skin until it shines, but inside there is no music, then what? Kabir

by Dongi 2 on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 11:12:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

I really disliked Ari Fleischer and Tony Snow. I guess I'm in the minority here, but I never felt that Scott McClellan was all that bad (given he was Bush's Press Secretary). He was robotic, but that alone told me that he was discomfited.

I am not surprised with his book's revelations, however conditional or cramped they may be.

by Quiddity (quiddity_q@lycos.com) on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 03:30:15 PM EST

Re: McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush (none / 0)

"He was robotic, but that alone told me that he was discomfited."

Just so! And therefore how DARE he now whine and cry that he was deceived?! He was not the deceived, he was the professional propagator of the deceit.

by Hurria (Muslawia@gmail.com) on Wed May 28th, 2008 at 03:43:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

McClellan Has Unkind Words for Bush | 21 comments (21 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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