Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

It seems I need to get out tomorrow and purchase this book. I've been reading a lot of news stories about it and I'm boggled that Bush actually said these things to his Biographer.

For those that don't know, Draper interviewed Bush six times in 2006 in extended sessions. Apparently he had nearly full access to his staff as well. Draper writes for GQ and interviewed GW when he was in charage of Texas as well.

The most damning bit is best summed up by Countdown host Keith Olberman here:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/04/countdown-special-comment-you-have-no-remaining-credibility-about-iraq-sir/ Here is a bit from that clip you can find streaming there:

Quote

As he deceived the troops at Al-Asad Air Base yesterday with the tantalizing prospect that some of them might not have to risk being killed and might get to go home, Mr. Bush probably did not know that, with his own words, he had already proved that he had been lying — is lying… will be lying — about Iraq.

He presumably did not know, that there had already appeared those damning excerpts from Robert Draper’s book “Dead Certain.”

“I’m playing for October-November,” Mr. Bush said to Draper.

That, evidently, is the time during which, he thinks he can sell us the real plan.

Which is, to quote him: “To get us in a position where the presidential candidates, will be comfortable about sustaining a presence.”

Comfortable, that is, with saying about Iraq, again quoting the President, “stay longer.”

And there it is, sir. We’ve caught you.

Your goal is not to bring some troops home — maybe — if we let you have your way now;

Your goal is not to set the stage for eventual withdrawal;

You are, to use your own disrespectful, tone-deaf word, playing at getting the next Republican nominee to agree to jump into this bottomless pit with you, and take us with him, as we stay in Iraq for another year, and another, and another, and anon.

Everything you said about Iraq yesterday, and everything you will say, is a deception, for the purpose of this one cynical, unacceptable, brutal goal — perpetuating this war indefinitely.

Some very interesting bits in the book:
The First Lady called Rove "Pigpen" or "Boy Genius" both in negative context and thought he was a necessary evil. She also would get angry over Rove getting too much credit instead of GW.


The Author felt Bush was almost uninterested as Katrina approached the Gulf Coast in 2005. When he showed up from his vacation at the emergency briefing, he was so "gassed" and exhausted that he didn't ask any questions during the briefing.

Bush admits to bouts of crying over the Iraq War and that he cries out of public view to appear strong and instead cries on God's Shoulder.

Bush admits to seeing Ghosts come out of the wall in the Lincoln Bedroom.

Bush said he was creeped out by the White House when his Dad was President.

Rove apparently rebutted a Republican Senator that said an invasion in Iraq wouldn't be welcomed by it's citizens. He in fact imagined the response would be like the US entering Paris in WW2.

Bush plans on doing the lecture circuit after his term to "replenish the ol' coffers" and make "ridiculous" amounts of money just like his Dad and Clinton.

Bush recaps his hated for the UN saying he wouldn't be found in the hallways of the UN like Clinton after his term is done.

Many have seen the news in the last two days that Major Policy decisions were made without consulting or informing Bush. Apparently the book highlights the lack of communication and mismanaged decisions in the administration. For instance, Bush didn't know that Paul Bremmer was disbanding the Iraq Army in 2003. Bush apparently doesn't know why the Army was disbanded when it was the initial policy to keep it together. However Bremmer is now claiming in the press he had full support for his actions.

Anyhow, this looks like it could be a very interesting read.

_________________________________________
you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[airdvr 210]

Quote

It seems I need to get out tomorrow and purchase this book. I've been reading a lot of news stories about it and I'm boggled that Bush actually said these things to his Biographer.

For those that don't know, Draper interviewed Bush six times in 2006 in extended sessions. Apparently he had nearly full access to his staff as well. Draper writes for GQ and interviewed GW when he was in charage of Texas as well.

The most damning bit is best summed up by Countdown host Keith Olberman here:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/04/countdown-special-comment-you-have-no-remaining-credibility-about-iraq-sir/ Here is a bit from that clip you can find streaming there:

Quote

As he deceived (opinion)the troops at Al-Asad Air Base yesterday with the tantalizing prospect that some of them might not have to risk being killed and might get to go home, Mr. Bush probably did not know that, with his own words, he had already proved that he had been lying — is lying… will be lying — about Iraq.

He presumably did not know, that there had already appeared those damning excerpts from Robert Draper’s book “Dead Certain.”

“I’m playing for October-November,” Mr. Bush said to Draper.

That, evidently, is the time during which, he thinks he can sell us the real plan.

Which is, to quote him: “To get us in a position where the presidential candidates, will be comfortable about sustaining a presence.”

Comfortable, that is, with saying about Iraq, again quoting the President, “stay longer.”

And there it is, sir. We’ve caught you.(?)

Your goal is not to bring some troops home — maybe — if we let you have your way now;

Your goal is not to set the stage for eventual withdrawal;

You are, to use your own disrespectful, tone-deaf word, playing at getting the next Republican nominee to agree to jump into this bottomless pit with you, and take us with him, as we stay in Iraq for another year, and another, and another, and anon.(opinion)

Everything you said about Iraq yesterday, and everything you will say, is a deception, for the purpose of this one cynical, unacceptable, brutal goal — perpetuating this war indefinitely.


How great it must be to be the all-knowing Keith Olberman. mind reader of the world's powerful.

Some very interesting bits in the book:
The First Lady called Rove "Pigpen" or "Boy Genius" both in negative context and thought he was a necessary evil. She also would get angry over Rove getting too much credit instead of GW.


The Author felt Bush was almost uninterested as Katrina approached the Gulf Coast in 2005. When he showed up from his vacation at the emergency briefing, he was so "gassed" and exhausted that he didn't ask any questions during the briefing.

Bush admits to bouts of crying over the Iraq War and that he cries out of public view to appear strong and instead cries on God's Shoulder.

Bush admits to seeing Ghosts come out of the wall in the Lincoln Bedroom.

Bush said he was creeped out by the White House when his Dad was President.

Rove apparently rebutted a Republican Senator that said an invasion in Iraq wouldn't be welcomed by it's citizens. He in fact imagined the response would be like the US entering Paris in WW2.

Bush plans on doing the lecture circuit after his term to "replenish the ol' coffers" and make "ridiculous" amounts of money just like his Dad and Clinton.

Bush recaps his hated for the UN saying he wouldn't be found in the hallways of the UN like Clinton after his term is done.

Many have seen the news in the last two days that Major Policy decisions were made without consulting or informing Bush. Apparently the book highlights the lack of communication and mismanaged decisions in the administration. For instance, Bush didn't know that Paul Bremmer was disbanding the Iraq Army in 2003. Bush apparently doesn't know why the Army was disbanded when it was the initial policy to keep it together. However Bremmer is now claiming in the press he had full support for his actions.

Anyhow, this looks like it could be a very interesting read.

Indeed...in the non-fiction section. I'm still looking for that damning evidence you talked about earlier. All I'm reading here is a la Kitty Kelly. Please.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne