Scott McClellan, the whitehouse press secretary, the face of the Bush administration has announced his resignation. He's part of the Whitehouse's effort to put on a new face, to treat their poll numbers problem.
The thing is, putting a new face on is not going to solve the real problem, including the one the generals calling for Rumsfeld's removal have identified.
Bush says Rumsfeld is staying, that he, Bush is the "Decider." And he's right. The real problem is not with Rumsfeld. It's Bush. Put a new face on the whitehouse and inside, underneath, we still have Bush. Replace Card with Bolton and you still have Bush and Cheney calling the shots.
It will be interesting to see what kind of faces Bush brings in, but unless there are real, strong, leader types, who inspire trust from both sides of the partisan aisle, all the shuffling of bodies won't mean much. Karl Rove is being shuffled, but not removed. The word is he'll be more involved in strategy than policy... sorry but that doesn't mean much to me. Move the poison from one part of the plate to another and it's still toxic.
Here's the transcript of the announcement,
9:39 A.M. EDT
MR. McCLELLAN: Good morning, everybody. I am here to announce that I will be resigning as White House Press Secretary.
Mr. President, it has been an extraordinary honor and privilege to have served more than seven years now, the last two years and nine months as your Press Secretary.
The White House is going through a period of transition; change can be helpful, and this is a good time and good position to help bring about change. I am ready to move on. I've been in this position a long time, and my wife and I are excited about beginning the next chapter in our life together.
You have accomplished a lot over the last several years with this team, and I have been honored and grateful to be a small part of a terrific and talented team of really good people.
Our relationship began back in Texas, and I look forward to continuing it, particularly when we are both back in Texas.
THE PRESIDENT: That's right. (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Although, I hope to get there before you. (Laughter.)
I have given it my all, sir, and I've given you my all. And I will continue to do so as we transition to a new Press Secretary over the next two to three weeks. Thank you for the opportunity.
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I thank Scott for his service to our country. I don't know whether or not the press corps realizes this, but his is a challenging assignment dealing with you all on a regular basis. And I thought he handled his assignment with class, integrity. He really represents the best of his family, our state and our country. It's going to be hard to replace Scott. But, nevertheless, he's made the decision and I accept it.
One of these days he and I are going to be rocking on chairs in Texas, talking about the good old days and his time as the Press Secretary. And I can assure you I will feel the same way then that I feel now, that I can say to Scott, job well done.
This kind of comment makes me absolutely snaky:
"It will be interesting to see what kind of faces Bush brings in, but unless there are real, strong, leader types, who inspire trust from both sides of the partisan aisle, all the shuffling of bodies won't mean much."
Are you delusional? "real, strong, leader types, who inspire trust from both sides of the partisan aisle"??????
Are you kidding?? It will be more Bush liars. Period. There will be no more of an attempt at "inspiring trust" than there ever was before.
And why in God's name would you think there would be?
They don't care if they are trustworthy, they only care if we think they are so that they can continue to do what they want. It is no more complicated than that.
What has this misbegotten cabal of greedy, incompetent, self-serving criminals EVER done that you would hope now for anything more than the same back of their hands that they've been dishing out for the last 6 years?
The face this administration puts out to the public is a mask of lies, always has been, always will be. The say exactly what they have to say to be able to keep doing what they want to do. The new press secretary will be someone who will further that goal, nothing more, nothing less. Trust, truth, honesty and leadership have nothing to do with it.
Ascribing morals to the Bush Administration is like attributing human characteristics to wild animals. You can anthropormorphize them all you like, but there is a feral beast there that will attack with no thought other than it's own hunger or survival.
by
Ruth Lopez (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 25 comments) on Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 11:46:38 AM
McClellan's resignation must have been a real tear-jerker for the White House Press Corps to witness. No doubt they'll be passing the fedora around (the one with the white "Press" card in the hatband) and buy "Scotty" a good parting gift.
He will then be beamed up for his new Star Fleet assignment. Meanwhile, Bush can go back to having Chaney hire Klingons like Ari Fleischer to sreamroll the press.
by
lindbergh (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 20 comments) on Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 1:12:55 PM
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