Publisher Public Affairs offers an excerpt from Scott McClelland's new book about his tenure as George II's Press Secretary, What Happened :
Scott, I think there's a problem with the title you might want to fix before it hits the streets, it needs a "?" at the end.The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby.
There was one problem. It was not true.
I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the president himself.
I'll actually try, at this point, to be nice to the man. Of the front men for this presidency, Scott McClelland was the most likable in that he honestly seemed to try to give the press corps the truth and was uncomfortable dodging questions and didn't try to cover foot dragging with jocular "we're all pals here" condescension or manufactured anger. He did his job but at times he clearly didn't like how he was having to do it.
I don't know if I'll spend the money for is book, $27.95 publish date 4/21/08, I think I'll wait for some reviews - I could buy my wife a pretty nice dinner out for that price, and I'm sure I like her.
I think, at this point, that this is a storm in a tea cup.
15 comments:
To Chuck Butcher,
If you think that you can buy your wife a "pretty good dinner" for the princely sum of $27.95, then I have to question anything else you might say. Sure, ignore a book which appears to expose impeachable acts against the best interests of the country for a five-course foray at TGIF's. Do that and rave about it on a national forum such as this, and I'm sure she won't like you any longer.
Invest in a Zagat Guide and a new sense of reality.
You have no idea how far I live from places in that guide and I can buy her a pretty good dinner for $28.
What the hell is a ZAGAT guide? Know a few elk guides, a cougar guide, a steelhead guide but never hunted Zagats. They taste good? Must be pretty good eatin if they cost more than $28.
hotels and restaraunts, rating guide. sure.
Hey you's guys... Firstly, I think that regardless of whether Chuck wants to blow 30 bucks on a book sight unseen or not, Dinner with the wife is always a good idea. The book will only get less expensive, and the food... well it seems that thirty bucks gets you what twelve bucks did not very long ago. So Kudos to Chuck for being thrifty, and thanks for bringing up the book for the rest of ue to ponder. It may be an interesting read, and it may just be another hack out to grab a fast buck. either way, I think I'm with Chuck on waiting 'till I have some reputable reviews before I go spending some fiat money on a book about lies.
Telling Scott that he forgot the "?" in his title is typical of America's grasp of its own language. The title is brilliant, it isn't a question but a statement. I am so happy that someone in the Bush White House is speaking out. This president is the single most detrimental thing to happen to the US since 9/11. And this president is responsbile for more deaths than that horrible day in our history.
Chuck.
Now that Scotts book has hit the market perhaps you will see fit to read it and realize what the rest of us have seen from the Bush White House almost since W took office. He is the wrong man for that job.
I guess its because the most of us don't live to close to that mystical place called Washington that we can see through the fog that seems to envelope that part of the country. A fog that makes the rest of the world look far away and unintelligent compared to the group that currently live there. Every one is saying they wonder why Mr McClelland wrote the book and spilled the beans. Perhaps he came up out of that fog and realized what the George Bush Administration, of which he was a part, had done to OUR country.
I say, "thank you Mr Scott McClelland, for having the courage to stand up and speak what I believe to be the truth, about one of the most corrupt and evil (yes evil) political powers in our United States of Americans history and I think you, Scott McClelland, are one of the most courageous people I know". I also wish Mr McClelland the best of luck with his book and I (although I am but a lowly peasent who doesn't live in a fog) am perfectly willing to spend thirty bucks to read a piece of history. Oh Chuck by the way, there have been lots of people who wrote books about the Bush White House but didn't have the courage to tell it like it is and name names..
Signed...
Gerry Evans
Coos Bay Oregon/ Smithfield Va.
e-mail me togerryevans@msn.com
Scott seems to be clueless about the facts, admitting that did not know what was happening - just doing what he was told. How did he all of a sudden gain such in-depth insight and inside knowledge? Did he not get a big enough pat on the back when he left the WH? What a sore loser! I have found these types of books to be at least one-half fiction - just to sell the book! Scott's is no different. It is sad to smear other people just to make money! I credit the WH for not smearing Scott in return. "This is not the Scott we knew" comment from the WH should shame Scott for the rest of his life.
Folks, this is a six month old post. Dinner for my wife is a lot more than $30 now since I have to drive and all.
I'll stick with the '?' needs to be there. I don't think a declarative sentence is good enough.
Funny that Scott McClelland decides to be true to his faith, learn from his mistakes, and become a better person at a time President Bush is winding down in office and McClelland stands to make a lot of $$$. Apparently McClelland got very good at duping the American public and he's now duped them again into buying the book and while at the same time duped himself. I've never heard such Bunk! How spineless. That's being true to the publishers, the $$$ and lying to yourself McClelland. Having problems paying the bills since you left? If you want to be true to your faith, try going to church. I'll pray for you. And if what you say were remotely true, who really lacks the inquisitiveness here??? What were you a talking dummy?? Why now? Why not a year from now? Because it's all about the $$$, not about the truth! Again you find the American public an easy target to dupe??? And apparently so, the book shot to #1. Go sell this bunk elsewhere!!
I think what Michael Reagon said about another Judas was right on. So sad that Scott didn't leave the White House before he was fired.
Wow...
George W. Bush has been outed as the "Traitor in Chief"
What makes you think that the President didn't have anything to do with it when the facts are clearly there and any capable mind can see the pressed timeline regarding the NIE being succinctly declassified with such so absolutely-necessary-to-be-classified information included!
George was trying to protect his man Cheney's boy Scooter.
Don't cry about McClelland...
The publisher leaked passages MONTHS ago and most of you still haven't read the book.
Get it right.
Stop selling the USA down the river like GW Bush did.
I don't care whose side they're on, I have no use for anyone who bites the hand that feeds them. Without the Bush appointment no one would have ever heard of this guy and, as far as I'm concerned, he's not worth $27.95 or the price of the powder and shot to blow him to hell.
tah
Love your blog, by the way.
And you can buy a wonderful dinner here in Chicago for alot less than 30 bucks.
A 2000 mile commute might kick the cost a tad over $30. I haven't been in Chicago for a lot of years, like over 30. I passed by about 10 years ago.
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