by Damozel | In an interview for Newsnight last week, the BBC's Kirstie Wark asked Scott McClellan if some of his current candor might perhaps have saved citizens of the US who were not shills for the Bush Administration a certain amount of war, devastating expense, corruption, outing of CIA agents, etc.? (Well, she didn't use exactly those words, but that was what I thinkshe meant.) McClellan said he didn't know, didn't understand, failed to put 2 and 2 together, and so forth. Further proof, I guess --- that is, if you believe him --- that neocons and those who support them just aren't that bright. How could McClellan, who was right on the scene, not know when even I knew? Even my 80-year old mother knew.
Anyway, he is now supposedly trying to make amends 'so that we don't make the same mistakes again.' Next on his to-do list: testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Valerie Plame leak.
"I have extended an invitation...after discussions between Committee staff and his attorneys," wrote Conyers. "In his book, Mr. McClellan suggests that senior White House officials may have obstructed justice and engaged in a cover-up regarding the Valerie Plame leak. This alleged activity could well extend beyond the scope of the offenses for which Scooter Libby has been convicted and deserves further attention."...
McClellan will be the highest-ranking Bush administration official to be pressed by Congress on the Plame affair. Former Bush strategist Karl Rove has refused to testify, citing executive privilege.
And as such, the testimony could be extremely revealing. According to McClellan, the decision to leak Plame's covert identity emanated from the very top of the Bush White House. The move, he wrote, was politically motivated, as officials were peeved at the critical statements about Iraq coming from Plame's husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson. While McClellan said that the president was ultimately misled by his advisers on the matter, he asserted that the episode itself was a stain on the Oval Office - one that led to his disillusionment.
"It's...clear to me that Scooter Libby was guilty of the perjury and obstruction crimes for which he was convicted," McClellan wrote. "When the president commuted Libby's prison sentence and thereby protected him from serving even one day behind bars, I was disappointed. This kind of special treatment undermines our system of justice." (The HuffPost; emphasis added)
Yes, so our sources remarked at the time. In fact, this is exactly what they and we and everyone who was paying attention were saying at the time. Again, how did we know all this when McClellan didn't? You know, there was a time when I was looking forward to the self-justifying revisionist memoirs that I felt certain would eventually flow from the few ex-Bushies who actually had consciences. But now I just want to take McClellan's bestseller lucrative and....well, never mind what. There's too much senseless violence in print already.
Meanwhile, former Time Magazine Reporter Paul Alexander has included in his book, Machievelli's Shadow, this interesting insight into the firing of Karl Rove.
“On a Sunday in midsummer, George W. Bush accompanied Karl Rove to the Episcopalian Church Rove sometimes attended,” writes Alexander. “They made their way to the front of the congregation. Then, during their time in the church, Bush gave Rove some stunning news. ‘Karl,’ Bush said, ‘there’s too much heat on you. It’s time for you to go.’” Maybe Bush knew what he was doing in breaking such bad news in such serene atmosphere: As Alexander documents, Rove has quite the temper. (Examiner.com)
Interestingly, even some well-known Republicans---who presumably benefited from Rove's tactics---- have nothing good to say about him.
Machiavelli's Shadow" doesn't portray Rove in a favorable light and Alexander includes plenty of interviews with GOP notables unsatisfied with Rove's influence during the Bush administration.
"Every Republican I know looks at the Bush administration as a total failure," said Matt Towery, chairman of Newt Gingrich's political organization.
“To do what he did politically to us is unforgivable," Rep. Tom Tancredo told Alexander. "It will take generations to recover. I don't know how long; maybe never." (Examiner.com)
Oh yes? Thanks, GOP apologists everywhere, for foisting Bush and Rove on the half of the country that wasn't butt-stupid enough to vote for Bush; for enabling them; and for fighting Democrats and the handful of sane Republicans who opposed him every step of the way.
Hillary: a Senator and a Lady -- a Well Loved and Much Admired Lady
Burma Junta Kicks Cyclone Victims out of Shelters
Iraqi Parliament wants U.S. Out
Media Bias and Potential Disaster as we Move Forward: Fortunately, Poll Shows Public has Caught on
Arsonist Set Fire to Texas Governor's Mansion
Abramoff Told the Truth about Heavy White House Access: Why it Matters
Comments