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Firedoglake
While most convention speeches, even those by former nominees Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and then-Vice President Walter Mondale, are fairly good, the convention speech by John McCain was not, writes Attaturk. With just 60 days until the election and voters ... READ MORE

Contentions
John McCain had to neutralize the Democratic argument that he's "more of the same," so he was smart to use his speech to distance himself from the Bush administration, writes John Podhoretz. In contrast to Barack Obama, who tried to ... READ MORE

Daily Kos
Though John McCain tried to break with President Bush in his speech, the most McCain did to distance himself from the president was to not mention Bush by name in his address, according to Hunter. Democrats represent the real change ... READ MORE

The Huffington Post
Just like Barack Obama, John McCain wants "change," The Huffington Post notes on its front page covering the Republican's convention speech. But pundits found the address to be "flat," "disappointing," and the worst convention speech since President Carter's in 1980, ... READ MORE

Drudge Report
Just eight weeks are left in the presidential campaign, notes the Drudge Report, which links to the Associated Press's preview of what’s left. In other links, Drudge highlights Bob Woodward's report in his new book that President Bush "failed to ... READ MORE

Daily Kos
Though John McCain tried to break with President Bush in his speech, the most McCain did to distance himself from the president was to not mention Bush by name in his address, according to Hunter. Democrats represent the real change ... READ MORE

RedState
John McCain didn't give a great speech, but he successfully appealed to undecided voters by listing Republican sins and calling for a return to the basic tenets of conservatism, writes Erick Erickson. While McCain may not be able to match ... READ MORE

The Corner
John McCain did the right thing to avoid soaring oratory and instead ground his convention speech in the "politics of honor," but he must articulate another policy proposal that will directly affect Americans, writes Rich Lowry. McCain was appealing in ... READ MORE

Townhall.com
Speeches aren't really John McCain's things, as was evident Thursday night, but he did have some good lines about bipartisanship and reforming Washington in ways that Barack Obama can't, writes Amanda Carpenter. But McCain did lay out a series of ... READ MORE

TalkingPointsMemo
John McCain's convention speech just wasn't very good, due in large part to McCain's support for policies President Bush and the Republicans have been using for years, writes Josh Marshall. McCain and his campaign didn't even get the stagecraft right, ... READ MORE

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May 28, 2008

Bartlett: McClellan Allegations 'Total Crap'

@ 2:58 pm by Andy Barr

Former White House counselor Dan Bartlett tells CNN that claims from former White House press secretary Scott McClellan that the media was too easily manipulated by the Bush Administration are "total crap."

It's almost like we're witnessing an out-of-body experience," Bartlett said of McClellan. "We're hearing from a completely different person we didn't have any insight into."

Bartlett added that intimates of the president feel McClellan has violated his trust. "Part of the role of being a trusted adviser is to honor that trust," said Bartlett. "It's not your place now to go out" and criticize the president like this.

"What did he really believe when he was serving as press secretary?" Bartlett asked.

8 Comments »

The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.
  1. Rob Bartlett's "total crap" response to Scott McClellan's allegations in his book, only serves to prove McClellan's charges, as well all those of average citizens who believe the Bushies' mantra, "You're either for us or against us…..and if you're against us you are not a patriot." If McClellan or anybody wants to criticize this horrible administration, it is their right to do so, Mr. Bartlett.

    Comment by Howard Manas — May 28, 2008 @ 5:14 pm

  2. "We're hearing from a completely different person we didn't have any insight into."

    That's because all you people are ignorant and fail to recognize the obvious.

    "What did he really believe when he was serving as press secretary?" Bartlett asked.

    Uhhhhmmmm… maybe he believed you dirtbags would actually tell him the TRUTH?

    Comment by DRUMZ — May 28, 2008 @ 5:20 pm

  3. Wow. This book at the very least is suspect. One would think that anybody who was as troubled with this administration as he claims to be and had all of these feelings would have spoken up right then and there. That would have shown the strength of his character. To do this now, only when big money has been waved in his face makes me think twice about anything that he has to say. Uneducated, go with the flow people will eat this book up. They will believe anything that a Bush-basher has to say regardless of the truth. I would like to hear why Scott was fired and think that maybe this is a case of sour grapes, and so wanting to be accepted by the left….

    Way to go Scott your character is shining through loud and clear….

    Comment by Missy — May 28, 2008 @ 6:23 pm

  4. What I want to know is this. Why is Scott McClellan being treated as an "authority"????? He has an opinion on the war, in fact, he not only has an opinion (I wonder if he took political science) he also discredits the President of the United States. This plays into the hands of the Democrats…I think he is a Republican…but much worse…it plays into the hands of our enemies. Why wasn't this person looked upon as Secretary of Defense? I know, he did not have the knowledge to be one. But now…oh, the MSM will treat him as an authority.

    He mischaracterizes what happened with Katrina. Oh…do I remember that. BEFORE the storm hit..Bush was on the phone with the governor and the mayor. Under the protocol for a disaster, it is (1)local, (2) state and (3) Federal. The function of FEMA is to assist AFTER…not before.
    Mayor Negron…why were all those buses still parked in the lot? Why didn't you use them to get your people out? Governor, when the President asked if you needed anything, your answer was "NO", you had it under control. Did someone think that Bush should have flown into New Orleans in the middle of the hurricane? On the contrary, after the president became involved, things started to happen. Negron and the Madaam Governor just sat on their hands.

    Karl Rove and Scooter Libby having meetings together…well, duh…one worked for prez..one worked for VP AND NEITHER ONE OUTED THE FAMOUS AND RICH VALERIE PLAME…RICHARD ARMITAGE DID FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

    Then there is the story about Bush and cocaine. If you don't see a man use it…you're only one thing…a gossip…and for what you ask? Try money. How great this guy is going to feel and all of those that step on the cocaine soap box to further denegrate the office of the presidency. If you didn't witness it…YOU CANNOT testify to it.

    This country needs all the help it can get right now without some whiney little brat that got fired and is playing payback. Well, Mr. McClellen, even if all of this were true…you have lost my respect…you're an opportunist. Enjoy you money…it won't buy your happiness and it won't buy respect. I hope it was worth it.

    Comment by Carolyn — May 28, 2008 @ 7:40 pm

  5. Armitage was not prosecuted for the same reason Scooter Libby wasn't prosecuted for outing Plame: no crime was commmitted. The statute had a time limit of how long you had been out of the field to be able to invoke it. She had not been a field agent for a period exceeding the statute and that is why they did not try Libby on that charge. By the way the prosecutor, Fitzgerald new that about the statute for two years and kept at Libby so he could catch him up in a mistake that would result in perjury. Nice guy.

    Comment by Stan — May 28, 2008 @ 8:27 pm

  6. ditto to Carolyn's post!

    Comment by DBran — May 29, 2008 @ 8:51 am

  7. Is it really SO HARD to believe Bush might not remember trying cocaine in his youth? He has admitted to being a serious alcoholic in those days. Anyone who has blacked out from drinking (don't judge me people, you've probably done it too) knows that there is no question of whether or not you remember - you just plain don't. McClellan's "insight" into this matter and others are so obviously clouded and motivated by one thing - book sales… wonder if there's a movie deal-in-waiting… I bet Al Gore would produce it and Oliver Stone would direct… Shocker…

    Comment by Tony — May 29, 2008 @ 9:46 am

  8. Even before the Iraq war, many people knew that Bush was manipulating the information concerning WMDs but to add on to what McCellan had shared, there was a conspiracy.. Bush was only part as well as the media and FCC.. The Iraq war wasn't about WMDs, spread of democracy, not even about oil…but according to Phillip Zelikow who was on the 911 commission "It was all about Israel" and the NWO agenda.

    http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=23083
    http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/the-new-world-order-religious-and-political-conspiracy/
    http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/beware-of-the-beast-the-beasts-of-revelation-13-identified/

    Comment by joe — May 29, 2008 @ 4:16 pm

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