McClellan whacks Bush, White House

[Allhallowsday]

McClellan whacks Bush, White House
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.

Among the most explosive revelations in the 341-page book, titled "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception" (Public Affairs, $27.95):

• 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... 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080527/pl_politico/10649

[indianasmith]

Seems like there's never any shortage of disgruntled  ex-White House staffers ready to dump on their former First Boss, but even I will admit the Bush White House has had more defectors than many.  I'm looking forward to reading this one.


That being said, very few contemporary works about any President stand the test of time.  Tempers are too heated and passions are too high while a man is in office, and for about 20 years after he leaves, for any form of balanced judgement to be made.

[Oldskool138]

McCellan was the WORST press secretary I've ever seen...especially when the country was going to war.  He always seemed unprepared and the reporters ate him alive on a daily basis.

But, I've read some excerpts from his book and it's pretty consistent with what other ex-Bush staffers have written.  Yeah,  I voted him twice but, man, has he really been a spectacular let-down.  (My state's electoral votes went to Gore and Kerry so my vote really didn't help put and keep him in office).

I must say though that I'm not too keen on Obama, McCain, and Hillary...