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Bush Authorized the CIA Leak?

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Emptywheel makes the case that Scotty McClellan admitted as much this morning on the Today Show:

During the interview, Scottie revealed the two things that really pissed him off with the Bush Administration. First, being set up to lie by Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. And second, learning that Bush had--himself--authorized the selective leaking of the NIE. [...]

Thus far ... we only had Dick Cheney's word that he had actually asked Bush to declassify this information. We didn't have Bush's confirmation that he had actually declassified the information. In fact, we've had Dick Cheney's claims that he--Dick--had insta-declassified via his super secret pixie dust declassification powers.

But now we've got George Bush, confirming that he, the President of the United States, authorized the leaks of "this information."

Now, though Scottie refers, obliquely, to "this information," he explicitly refers only to the NIE. But as I've described over and over again, it's not just the NIE Bush authorized Dick to order Libby to leak. ...(more)

Do give the rest of it a read. You can watch the entire interview here on the MSNBC website.

Hopefully Keith Olbermann will follow up on this as McClellan is due to appear on tonight's Countdown.

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124 Comments
karen marie's picture

i read yesterday afternoon/evening that in november 2007 bush read a draft of mcclellan's book and thought it "harsh" but assumed it would be toned down.

what i infer is that he and his cabal tried to bitch-slap mcclellan into "softening the tone" causing mcclellan to make his criticisms of bush & co more harsh (and closer to the truth) than it was in the draft bush saw.

i'm laughing at that. shock! dismay! how could he betray us!

notice they never accuse him of being a liar, only of being a "traitor."

stiffen your spine -- read "cicero" by robert harris

budda's picture

McClellan's revelations makes it even more clear what a disaster the Bush era has been to this nation. I like to think it might even take Bush's approval ratings lower.

Blue Lensman's picture

Could get interesting if Scotty gets sloppy and blurts out the truth in one of these interviews.

Marc's picture

I hear Wackiavelli...again!

marko's picture

ouchies!!!

but pelosi will remain immovable even after she says this!!!

ack!!!

casper46's picture

Well, Bush should be firing Bush any minute?

Nevada Blue's picture

My dream is that as soon as Barack Obama finishes reciting the oath of office he will begin his inaugural address by indicating Bush and Cheney and utter the words "Will the Secret Service please take these men into custody."

earl's picture

Oh Naaaaaaaannnnccyyyy !! ..... ding ding ding!!!! .... do your job !!!!....

StirFry's picture

Ok, now I need to get this book. Are we sure the profits aren't going to the RNC? :)

jmike's picture

Nevada Blue @ 7:

My dream is that as soon as Barack Obama finishes reciting the oath of office he will begin his inaugural address by indicating Bush and Cheney and utter the words "Will the Secret Service please take these men into custody."

I have that same dream! Only in my dream it's U.S. Marshals.

KYJurisDoctor's picture

Of course, there is NO doubt in my mind Scott is telling the truth.

While I don't know about any of you commenting on this site or reading from home or work, I can tell you that I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT BOOK to find out "what happened" to the idealist George Bush I voted for in 2000 (notice there is NO mention of 2004).

Paul's picture

I can't help but think that with all these media figures suddenly awakening from their Rip Van Media schtick that it only another centrally orchestrated scam being put in place. They know that Obama is going to be the next president, so now they're all of the sudden remembering what the job is suppossed to be about. Presto-chango, and they're sudden;y ready to rock. Only now, they'll be waging endless smear campaigns, lies and distortions, slanders and defamations in an endless propaganda war in which Obama and any Congressional Democrats who have the spine to actually behave as Democrats will be the targets of their new-found "journalistic" fervor.

Meanwhile, we'll hear nothing but bitter complaints from the GOPers about how the right-wing propaganda machine we call commercial media is a liberal conspiracy. And the American people will eat it up.

One of the first things Obama is going to need to do is conduct a thorough house cleaning and fumigation of the FCC. He needs to let it be known that use of OUR airwaves is a revocable privilege these propaganda corporations enjoy, not a right.

ysbaddaden's picture

I bet during his college years, boosh snorted through rolled up one hundred dollar bills plenty of super secret pixie dust.

jmike's picture

Scottie needs to go have a talk with Patrick Fitzgerald! Names, dates, places.

uncle joe hussein mccarthy's picture

he just accused bush of treason

treason

i dont care if that man has less than a year in the wh

begin impeachment proceedings immediatly

and then ship his ass to the world court and let him be tried, convicted and hung for war crimes

ysbaddaden's picture

jmike @ 10:

Nevada Blue @ 7:

My dream is that as soon as Barack Obama finishes reciting the oath of office he will begin his inaugural address by indicating Bush and Cheney and utter the words "Will the Secret Service please take these men into custody."

I have that same dream! Only in my dream it's U.S. Marshals.

I have that same dream! Only in my dream it's the Texas Rangerettes

http://www.chslariettes.com/Photo%20Gallery/Hoffman%20triplets.jpg

vrk's picture

Damn, its a shame this guy was such a punk in the whitehouse. I could've actually respected him.

Leo Drongo's picture

Scottie has been saying that Bush authorized the NIE leak, not the CIA leak as your headline infers.

wisedup's picture

Hey Scotty, spill your guts. Why? It lowers your guilt and sells lots of books. Of course since you lied when you could have not, nothing will undo your choice to lie and cause the deaths of thousands. Sleeping pills only do so much,have a nice night.

casper46's picture

uncle joe hussein mccarthy @ 15:

he just accused bush of treason

treason

i dont care if that man has less than a year in the wh

begin impeachment proceedings immediatly

and then ship his ass to the world court and let him be tried, convicted and hung for war crimes

Amazingly treason isn't very important anymore. *sigh*

MountainMan23's picture

Rather interesting.
From: MSNBC: McClellan: Plame leak case was turning point

...
Texas roots

McClellan’s grandfather, W. Page Keeton, was dean of the University of Texas School of Law. His mother, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, was the first woman elected mayor of Austin and was elected as the Texas Comptroller in 1998. She ran for governor of Texas in 2006 but finished third in a five-way race.

McClellan’s father, Barr McClellan, was an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board and then for the Federal Power Commission under Democratic President Lyndon Johnson. Barr McClellan also wrote a book about power and Washington: “Blood, Money & Power: How LBJ Killed JFK.” Published in 2003, the book claims that Texas attorney — and Barr McClellan’s former boss — Ed Clark masterminded the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Barr McClellan has written a second book, “Made in the USA: Corporate Greed, Tax Laws, and the Exportation of America’s Future,” scheduled for release in July.

Scott McClellan’s brother, Mark, 44, was a member of President Bush’s council of economic advisers and was commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
...

Maybe it runs in the McClellan family - work for a criminal president then tell all.

JasonS's picture

Well, it's a good thing our sober, rational, even-headed Democratic leadership so sagely and wisely took impeachment off the table!

Imagine if these revelations had come out under oath in front of Congress instead of in a book for the profit of the author the way God intended!

What a disaster that would have been!

Remember, kids: if you can't get a conviction, impeachment is totally pointless. Yes sir. Totally pointless.

Paul's picture

jmike @ 14:

Scottie needs to go have a talk with Patrick Fitzgerald! Names, dates, places.

Before he does that he should give sworn deposition telling all. Then tell the world that he has done so...before he is "accidented" or "heart attacked" or Stroked" or "untimely demised" by other means.

NAncy Pelosi, of course, is otherwise too pre-occupied to do her friggin' job. I hope Cindy Sheehan's campaign to unseat Pelosi is going well.

innocent bystander's picture

all the "this isn't the scotty that we knew" talk makes me wonder if scotty ever saw a shrink while wrestling with his conscience (wouldn't be surprising -- knowing all too well how the bushies operate, scotty's demons probably carry vials of anthrax), and this is a prelude to outing him for having some sort of personality disorder

Scy's picture

rings and do nothing even though this is statutory treason by the President of the United States.

Taguba's picture

Boy, Olberman is going to have a field day with this guy. I cannot wait to see the Right wing sheeptards heads explode one by one. Lets hope the frog marching comes sooner than later.
I wonder when John McBush is going to throw his mentor under the Straight talk express ?? I'll bet it will be SOON and it will be UGLY !!

earl's picture

"And when 'ah finds me som' a them ...som' a them leakers 'ahm a gonna hunt em down and .... uh ....uh .... never mind 'bout that ... ----- mommyyyyy!!!"

Dale's picture

Scottie ALWAYS said he would be more forthcoming at a later time. I always assumed it would be after the Plame investigation was done, but I guess he meant after he resigned and his book was being released.

BobD's picture

Paul @ 23:

jmike @ 14:

Scottie needs to go have a talk with Patrick Fitzgerald! Names, dates, places.

Before he does that he should give sworn deposition telling all. Then tell the world that he has done so...before he is "accidented" or "heart attacked" or Stroked" or "untimely demised" by other means.

NAncy Pelosi, of course, is otherwise too pre-occupied to do her friggin' job. I hope Cindy Sheehan's campaign to unseat Pelosi is going well.

Do I hear the sound of a Subpoena being written? Keep talking Scotty, you'll be easier for the sherriff to find when he wants to hand you "the paperwork"!

gwen's picture

Yeah I'm sure Mclellan is shocked -- shocked! -- to learn of the Bush administration's crimes.

Dale's picture

Scottie had this to consider: 1.) Disagree with White House, be ridiculed, insulted and fired; 2.) Resign, write a book, disagree with White House, be ridiculed, insulted and make millions of dollars.

casper46's picture

gwen @ 30:

Yeah I'm sure Mclellan is shocked -- shocked! -- to learn of the Bush administration's crimes.

Can't decide if he found a conscience or it's just CYA.

JTM's picture

Leo Drongo @ 18:

Scottie has been saying that Bush authorized the NIE leak, not the CIA leak as your headline infers.

While you are correct that McClellan hasn't (yet) said point-blank that Bush also authorized the leaking of Plame's job, that's the issue that most people are wondering about, hence the thread's title.

Of course, given my knee-jerk defenses of C&L thread titles, feel free to ignore me.

Dale's picture

JTM @ 32:

Leo Drongo @ 18:

Scottie has been saying that Bush authorized the NIE leak, not the CIA leak as your headline infers.

While you are correct that McClellan hasn't (yet) said point-blank that Bush also authorized the leaking of Plame's job, that's the issue that most people are wondering about, hence the thread's title.

Of course, given my knee-jerk defenses of C&L thread titles, feel free to ignore me.

Ignore who?

couldn't resist.

Peter G's picture

Leo Drongo @ 18:

Scottie has been saying that Bush authorized the NIE leak, not the CIA leak as your headline infers.

I believe the word you want to use here is "implies" not infers. Please notice the question mark. It does not mean they are implying anything. Merely asking the question.

peaceful easy feeling's picture

Leo Drongo @ 18:

Scottie has been saying that Bush authorized the NIE leak, not the CIA leak as your headline infers.

Shhh! Don't be spoiling people's fantasies with facts and logic. :)

Carol's picture

Watch your back Scotty!!
Your ex employer and his friends are not to be trusted

Carol's picture

oops sorry, its Scottie

Left&Left's picture

That's right Scotty, keep it coming. Wipe that guilt stricken blood off your hands.... with Dubyah's jacket.

Patrick Broadfoot's picture

I loved Tweety last night: "Can you fault the whore for leaving the whorehouse?"
In reference to Scott.

Woo woo!

Dave's picture

dog & pony show--that is all

Dale's picture

When you look at the Secretaries of Press for the Bush Admin (Fleicher, Snow, McClellen, Perino), McClellen is the one I would have expected to have a conscience.

Bonkers's picture

Scotty's first mistake was taking the job. But once he did that, he was screwed. Imagine being in his position, with black-hearted scumbags like Cheney breathing down your neck?

Cheney: "Listen, sonny: I work on the dark side. You don't wanna mess with me. Just go out there, do your thing and it will all be over soon. Remember Bull Durham, where Costner is teaching Robbins his "cliches"? It's like that. Here are YOUR cliches. Learn 'em, love 'em, live 'em."

You keep covering for them until they tell you otherwise or fire your ass. To me, this might go a long way to explaining Butterbutt's apparent incompetence when addressing the WH press corps using endless repetitions of "Ongoing investigation" and the like. Maybe he made a compromise with himself and stuck with a set of cover phrases and lies and repeated them over and over again, minimizing to the best of his ability his own culpability (and the danger to his immortal soul) until he could get the hell out of that nightmare job. I'll say one thing for ol' Butterstuff: he annoying as all-heck, but never as nasty as Fleischer, Snow or "Too Much Cappuccino" Perino.

That being said, I am not giving Butternut much credit just yet. As far as I am concerned he was still a player then and is intent upon selling books now. Let's see what the real fall-out turns out to be.

Dr. Acula's picture

ysbaddaden @ 13:

I bet during his college years, boosh snorted through rolled up one hundred dollar bills plenty of super secret pixie dust.

Oh, but Duhbya "doesn't remember" that! Righto!

Samson-'s picture

scotty is starting to sound more like a left wing blogger: accurate, and truthful

thanks for the kudos turdblossom

pissed off patricia's picture

Carol @ 38:

Watch your back Scotty!!
Your ex employer and his friends are not to be trusted

I hope he makes enough money from his book to quickly hire body guards.

goat hussein sage's picture

He sounds more convincing here than he ever did at the WH podium and it is not because of the message.

david's picture

go scotty...wished we could have heard this sooner but Bu$h Co. probably would have crapped on you so hard no one major would have picked up the book....better late than never...

peaceful easy feeling's picture

Paul @ 23:

jmike @ 14:

Scottie needs to go have a talk with Patrick Fitzgerald! Names, dates, places.

Before he does that he should give sworn deposition telling all. Then tell the world that he has done so...before he is "accidented" or "heart attacked" or Stroked" or "untimely demised" by other means.

NAncy Pelosi, of course, is otherwise too pre-occupied to do her friggin' job. I hope Cindy Sheehan's campaign to unseat Pelosi is going well.

Not buying into your conspiracies that someone would actually 'off' Scotty over this, but had the same question here. Where the heck was McClellan two years ago? He resigned in April 2006, before Pelosi took impeachment off the table in May of 2006. Also Fitzgerald had open access to McClellan before Libby's trial began, and could have easily subpoenaed him as a prosecution witness.

Bonkers's picture

pissed off patricia @ 46:

Carol @ 38:

Watch your back Scotty!!
Your ex employer and his friends are not to be trusted

I hope he makes enough money from his book to quickly hire body guards.

He should stay off small planes as well. Maybe with his book out and him doing the talk show circuit the horse is already out of the barn, but if I were him I'd still take Amtrak for the foreseeable future.

Bill W.'s picture

Leo Drongo @ 18:

Scottie has been saying that Bush authorized the NIE leak, not the CIA leak as your headline infers.

No. Please do follow the link to Emptywheel's post, apropriately tiled "George Bush Authorized the Leak of Valerie Wilson’s Identity" (Notice, no question mark) and then you can come back and give us a 'my bad'.

The Bulldog Manifesto's picture

I think rage Against the Machine said it best:

The movie ran through me
The glamour subdue me
The tabloid untie me
I'm empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes the car is our wheelchair
My witness your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless
Ones who travel now in coffins
On the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside our door
Now testify!
---

Testify, Scotty. Testify.

SCHRODINGER'S  CAT's picture

KYJurisDoctor @ 11:

Of course, there is NO doubt in my mind Scott is telling the truth.

While I don't know about any of you commenting on this site or reading from home or work, I can tell you that I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT BOOK to find out "what happened" to the idealist George Bush I voted for in 2000 (notice there is NO mention of 2004).

Don't run out and buy the book now. In a years time you will be able to buy it on AMAZON for less than $ 10.00 . In the mean time just read the book reviews on AMAZON which should be more entertaining than the actual book.

Surely Dick wouldn't have done anything without George's permission, right?

But seriously folks, there has never been a doubt in my mind that Bush signed off on this. He may not have known exactly what he was doing. He certainly did not care. I can imagine him rubbing his hands together with glee saying "Dick, we're gonna git her and her bigmouth hubby. It'll be awesome."

-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud

bobsf's picture

There's a word to describe people like Scottie and George Tenet, who knew the truth, but don't speak the truth until the damage is already done. The word is "coward".

ysbaddaden's picture

Bush Authorized the CIA Leak?

Did he call the plumbers?

I don't know what exactly motivated him to write this book. Maybe it was his conscience eating him alive, maybe it was anger, maybe he felt it was his duty. But whatever it was, it has stirred up a firestorm than has been needing fired up for a long time.

Had he come out with this info in the past years it is very likely he would have been "Dixie chick-ed" and no one would have listened to him.

If a little guy like that can stop or even slow down this freight train that's heading over the cliff, fine by me. Better late than never.

McCain the Liar's picture

He had to make his book interesting for people to buy it. Scotty is hated for his lies. I will never buy a lying POS Republicans book.

Craig's picture

Meredith Viera is such a hypocrite, but how nice of her to confirm McClellan's point that the press did not do there job either. Sure McClellan was protecting his career by keeping his opinions to himself and "drinking the cool aide", just like Meredith and the rest of the self-serving MM press do every day. They suck up to their bosses and the administration to gain prestige and access. They think, "Screw their viewers, readers and their country." This does not mean that the things McClellan is now saying in his book are less than the truth. I always know when big government and big corporations are lying about disagreements with former employees - they use the term "disgruntled." That's all you got Bushies?!!!!

Bill W.'s picture

The Bulldog Manifesto @ 52:

I think rage Against the Machine said it best:

The movie ran through me
The glamour subdue me
The tabloid untie me
I'm empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes the car is our wheelchair
My witness your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless
Ones who travel now in coffins
On the corner
The jury's sleepless
We found your weakness
And it's right outside our door
Now testify!
---

Testify, Scotty. Testify.

o yeah ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JSBhI_0at0

Bonkers's picture

KYJurisDoctor @ 11:

Of course, there is NO doubt in my mind Scott is telling the truth.

While I don't know about any of you commenting on this site or reading from home or work, I can tell you that I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT BOOK to find out "what happened" to the idealist George Bush I voted for in 2000 (notice there is NO mention of 2004).

No offense, but I don't believe that George ever existed; I never even came close to considering a vote for what I saw as a joke of a candidate (little did I know he would actually go on to pretend to be president for 7+ years, but that is another topic). We've just had 7 very, very long years to watch his real personality reveal itself by his words and most certainly be his deeds.

Yellow Elephant Safari's picture

SCHRODINGER'S CAT @ 53:

KYJurisDoctor @ 11:

Of course, there is NO doubt in my mind Scott is telling the truth.

While I don't know about any of you commenting on this site or reading from home or work, I can tell you that I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT BOOK to find out "what happened" to the idealist George Bush I voted for in 2000 (notice there is NO mention of 2004).

Don't run out and buy the book now. In a years time you will be able to buy it on AMAZON for less than $ 10.00 . In the mean time just read the book reviews on AMAZON which should be more entertaining than the actual book.

Better yet, STEAL it.

Bonkers's picture

Bonkers @ 61:

KYJurisDoctor @ 11:

Of course, there is NO doubt in my mind Scott is telling the truth.

While I don't know about any of you commenting on this site or reading from home or work, I can tell you that I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT BOOK to find out "what happened" to the idealist George Bush I voted for in 2000 (notice there is NO mention of 2004).

No offense, but I don't believe that George ever existed; I never even came close to considering a vote for what I saw as a joke of a candidate (little did I know he would actually go on to pretend to be president for 7+ years, but that is another topic). We've just had 7 very, very long years to watch his real personality reveal itself by his words and most certainly be his deeds.

By the way, good on you for your turn around in 2004. Didn't want to gloss over that.
Peace!

tyree's picture

Nevada Blue @ 7:

My dream is that as soon as Barack Obama finishes reciting the oath of office he will begin his inaugural address by indicating Bush and Cheney and utter the words "Will the Secret Service please take these men into custody."

man you really are a dreamer, nothing changes ,the right hand washes the lefy hand!

tehghey's picture

Cool. Now we can impeach!

Yeah. Sure.

Weaseldog's picture

marko @ 5:

ouchies!!!

but pelosi will remain immovable even after she says this!!!

ack!!!

She and Reid will author a sternly worded letter, then go over to the White House for Drinks with Bush and Cheney.

Markus's picture

I-M-P-E-A-C-H !!!

Of course the justice department is in Bush's hands, so that won't do any good.

Where are the Jedi when you need them?

sher's picture

tehghey @ 65:

Cool. Now we can impeach!

Yeah. Sure.

Its too late for impeachment. A DOJ criminal investigation is the ticket.

The Truth Hurts's picture

karen marie @ 1:

i read yesterday afternoon/evening that in november 2007 bush read a draft of mcclellan's book and thought it "harsh" but assumed it would be toned down.

what i infer is that he and his cabal tried to bitch-slap mcclellan into "softening the tone" causing mcclellan to make his criticisms of bush & co more harsh (and closer to the truth) than it was in the draft bush saw.

i'm laughing at that. shock! dismay! how could he betray us!

notice they never accuse him of being a liar, only of being a "traitor."

stiffen your spine -- read "cicero" by robert harris

That's shocking!!!
Chimpy knows how to read?

AngryOne's picture

"McClellan Knew About, Defended Bush Leak of Iraq NIE."

From April 7, 2006:

Q: He was asked about leaking classified information, but the President said, "I've constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks." Not just classified information. He says "particularly leaks."

MR. McCLELLAN: The President believes the leaking of classified information is a very serious matter. And I think that's why it's important to draw a distinction here. Declassifying information and providing it to the public, when it is in the public interest, is one thing. But leaking classified information that could compromise our national security is something that is very serious. And there is a distinction.

Now, there are Democrats out there that fail to recognize that distinction, or refuse to recognize that distinction. They are simply engaging in crass politics. Let's make clear what the distinction is.

rain's picture

Poor lil' boy. My bottom lip is quivering.

Death Star's picture

What delusion are these right wing thugs contemplating, Bush devils have nothing but contempt of these country, If they hate something about the country they have avenues of changing things, but to actually destroy all virtues is lower then dirt on a garner snake.

earl's picture

Leo Drongo @ 18:

Scottie has been saying that Bush authorized the NIE leak, not the CIA leak as your headline infers.


Here let me get that for ya:

CNN:
"The first of the "defining moments," McClellan told NBC's "Today" show, was when CIA operative Valerie Plame's name was leaked to the media.

The second, he said, was when he learned that President Bush had secretly declassified a report on Iraq so Vice President Dick Cheney and Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby could disclose it to reporters. "

Yer welcome.

mrbadmood's picture

Hm. Well, Bush did say that anyone leaking info in his administration would not be working in his administration anymore. Perhaps its time to help our president keep his word.

I'm also wondering what this could do to the status of Libby's pardon. If there are grounds to prove Bush pardoned Libby in an effort to cover his own ass, would it be possible to overturn the pardon? Probably not.

Accountability of any kind has not been the current Administration's strong suit, and as long as it has the Mukasey stranglehold on the Justice Department I doubt things will change much.

But chickens do, after a time, have a way of coming home to roost. I'm wondering whose mug shot we will see first, and how long we will have to wait.

Bonkers's picture

Death Star @ 74:

What delusion are these right wing thugs contemplating, Bush devils have nothing but contempt of these country, If they hate something about the country they have avenues of changing things, but to actually destroy all virtues is lower then dirt on a garner snake.

"Garner snake"?

...trouser snake and garner!

:D

Annoyed Canuck's picture

pissed off patricia @ 57:

I don't know what exactly motivated him to write this book. Maybe it was his conscience eating him alive, maybe it was anger, maybe he felt it was his duty. . .

Part of it had to be money. Not that there's anything wrong with that. He has to make a living like everybody else.

The controversy is gonna send this book through the roof. Already #1 on Amazon. McClellan is going to make a shitpile o' cash. I'm sure that will help make up for the end of all his neocon friendships.

Weaseldog's picture

Annoyed Canuck @ 78:

pissed off patricia @ 57:

I don't know what exactly motivated him to write this book. Maybe it was his conscience eating him alive, maybe it was anger, maybe he felt it was his duty. . .

Part of it had to be money. Not that there's anything wrong with that. He has to make a living like everybody else.

The controversy is gonna send this book through the roof. Already #1 on Amazon. McClellan is going to make a shitpile o' cash. I'm sure that will help make up for the end of all his neocon friendships.

Why didn't the Bush administration arrange for him to get a cushy lifelong job, doing nothing important?

They are big on hanging folks out to dry.

of course he did. he was authorized by the patriot act, or the iraq war act or the "authorization to use force after lying his ass off"

Rick Mack's picture

Seems Scott ( and the administration as well ) like to have things both ways. He says they didn't "lie", but ignored/massaged other bits of crucial evidence that would have probably thwarted an invasion (which has cost us over 4,000 American lives and God knows how many Iraqi and coalition forces) of Iraq.

So guess what you just described Scott? Not a guy who was just doing his best thinking he was protecting America. No, not hardly. He was in the midst of full blown DERILICTION OF DUTY and IMPEACHABLE offenses. What does each president swear to do at the inaugural ? Faithfully exectue the office of president of the United States. Swears to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the U.S, so help him God. Not destroy, weaken or ignore.

He failed in his oath, as they all have. Can there really be more evidence and reason not to impeach and begin criminal proceedings? I mean, it's not like he just had some pizza & a hummer with an intern, then lied about it.

nochickenhawk's picture

peaceful easy feeling @ 49:

Paul @ 23:

jmike @ 14:

Scottie needs to go have a talk with Patrick Fitzgerald! Names, dates, places.

Before he does that he should give sworn deposition telling all. Then tell the world that he has done so...before he is "accidented" or "heart attacked" or Stroked" or "untimely demised" by other means.

NAncy Pelosi, of course, is otherwise too pre-occupied to do her friggin' job. I hope Cindy Sheehan's campaign to unseat Pelosi is going well.

Not buying into your conspiracies that someone would actually 'off' Scotty over this, but had the same question here. Where the heck was McClellan two years ago? He resigned in April 2006, before Pelosi took impeachment off the table in May of 2006. Also Fitzgerald had open access to McClellan before Libby's trial began, and could have easily subpoenaed him as a prosecution witness.

I asked the question on another site whether McClellan had ever testified under oath about the CIA Leak, and while he was not a witness at the Libby trial, he did testify under oath to the grand jury in 02/04.

Smitty's picture

Right now dirt bag Ed Schultz (do they measure IQ's as low as his?) defending the "elite" media with David Schuster saying that "only" about 1/4 of the congress voted against the war. When did 25% go below the radar and make something not worthy of investigating?

rekroc's picture

innocent bystander @ 24:

all the "this isn't the scotty that we knew" talk makes me wonder if scotty ever saw a shrink while wrestling with his conscience (wouldn't be surprising -- knowing all too well how the bushies operate, scotty's demons probably carry vials of anthrax), and this is a prelude to outing him for having some sort of personality disorder

Yeah, I found that pretty freaky as well. They're all saying the same thing, "That doesn't sound like the Scotty I used to know..."

I think it may somehow be connected to this story...

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/28/purported-ufo-video-be-shown-friday/

...and a prelude to the bombshell revelation that Scotty was abducted by far-left librul aliens.

abarts's picture

This man is a self professed liar. How can you believe anything he says? He has zero credibility. And it's sickening how he's become the media darling. Liars praising liars.

ysbaddaden's picture

If boosh authorized the CIA leak

Who shook him off afterwards?

Rick's picture

Nothing short of hauling a truckload of these criminals to jail (including this worthless prick) will restore justice in our country.

But that will never, ever, ever happen. Not even one of them will ever stand trial.

Nothing will change. Nothing ever changes because the democrats (save for a few) and our media are chickensh*t.

We're screwed, you do know that don't you people?

rekroc's picture

rekroc @ 84:

innocent bystander @ 24:

all the "this isn't the scotty that we knew" talk makes me wonder if scotty ever saw a shrink while wrestling with his conscience (wouldn't be surprising -- knowing all too well how the bushies operate, scotty's demons probably carry vials of anthrax), and this is a prelude to outing him for having some sort of personality disorder

Yeah, I found that pretty freaky as well. They're all saying the same thing, "That doesn't sound like the Scotty I used to know..."

I think it may somehow be connected to this story...

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/28/purported-ufo-video-be-shown-friday/

...and a prelude to the bombshell revelation that Scotty was abducted by far-left librul aliens.

...and Barack is their leader, of course...

Pete's picture

Dear Scott,
I have no respect for you, you self serving sack of butt pudding - where the hell was your spine and the truth when it would have mattered?
You come "out" now and spill these truths which were no secret to start with, but you happily plastered over the cracks for a buck back in the day.
No respect.
You spineless, unAmerican fuck.
You could have eased our national nightmare and shortened the Bush / Cheney malaise and criminal, immoral, warmongering bullshit, but you waited until you got a book deal.
FOAD.

JasonS's picture

Congress is now, as far as I am concerned, fundamentally required to open an impeachment investigation.

It's not about whether we can convict anymore. It's not about whether it will be popular for the Democrats anymore. It's not about whether it's a distraction anymore.

An official of the Bush White House has made a public declaration that this Administration distorted intelligence in the run up to war and actively sought to out a CIA agent. This, of course, comes as no surprise to everyone who could plainly see that that is what happened, but the Administration always had the "lack of a smoking gun" argument.

No there there. Just "left-wing bloggers and their paranoid conspiracy theories."

Look, if Jack Ruby had come out and said "Oswald had nothing to do with it. I shot JFK and the CIA helped me do it." Well, that might be disappointing, that might not be the Jack the CIA remembers, that might be self-serving, it may even be a lie, but it would DEMAND investigation.

This is no longer about gaming the political system. Either Congress opens an impeachment investigation OR congress is 100%, totally complicit in all of this just as much as if it was their idea to begin with. It is then incumbent upon all of US to vote ANY congressperson who opposes an investigation (not any congressperson who votes to acquit, any who opposes the INVESTIGATION) out of office and to seek to have them prosecuted for dereliction of public duty.

That's it. And it doesn't matter what the fuck your "caucus" has to say about it you party loyalist hacks. Go get a real job.

Trixi's picture

Here's what current Whitehouse Spokesliar, Dana Perino had to say in today's press gaggle (why I torture myself by reading these every day is beyond me):

Q Dana, I wanted to ask you, I know you don't want to go line-by-line with the whole book thing, the Scott McClellan book -- but I'm thinking you may want to address this because there's something out there. Not having the benefit of having the book in front of me, there's an allegation apparently made by Scott in the book that a reporter shouted a question to the President, on a trip that Scott had been with him on, just as they were getting on Air Force One, and it was Valerie Plame-related. Basically, it prompted Scott to ask the President directly, "Were you the one who authorized the leaking of Valerie Plame's name?" And the President apparently told Scott, "Yes, I was."

MS. PERINO: I don't know. Obviously I wasn't there and -- obviously I don't know the context. I think the -- it's hard for me to say. I don't have the book in front of me either and I don't know.

She doesn't know if he authorized the leak? No denial, just that she doesn't know? Accckkk, I hate what these people have done to my country!

Dr. Acula's picture

ysbaddaden @ 86:

If boosh authorized the CIA leak

Who shook him off afterwards?

The piss boy, of course.

Cowboy Bob in Austin's picture

Dave @ 42:

dog & pony show--that is all

I don't go to the circus any more... too much respect for the poor animals in the ring...

But I'll gladly pay my two-bits to oogle at THIS DOG AND PONY SHOW. I don't have any respect for any of these animals. The dogs of war are ready to eat their own... and the poor tired pony who was carrying the heavy load here just spilt the beans and high-tailed it out of the ring. WHAT A SHOW!

One Year Wonder's picture

"Change Washington for the better?"

Oh now its Washington's fault.

If he really did feel sorry about what happened he wouldn't have written a book, he would have found another way to get his story out. Videoblog it and post it for free.

Not.

he's still the weasely fat fuck he was on that podium, just hawking his own shit instead of someone elses. I must say he does a much better sales pitch when its his own crack he's selling.

shutterbug98's picture

Nevada Blue @ 7:

My dream is that as soon as Barack Obama finishes reciting the oath of office he will begin his inaugural address by indicating Bush and Cheney and utter the words "Will the Secret Service please take these men into custody."

Funny, that's been a dream of mine, too!! I guess great minds think alike.

tim w's picture

Oh yeah! Who said "paybacks a bitch? "

Johnny2Bad's picture

Markus @ 67:

I-M-P-E-A-C-H !!!

Of course the justice department is in Bush's hands, so that won't do any good.

Where are the Jedi when you need them?

What planet are you on? Who's going to impeach them??? The Dems???

"Impeachment is off the table"- Rep. Pelosi.

"Well, I respectfully suggest to anyone that suggests impeachment, that it's a very foolish idea." -Sen. H. Reid

You think the "Hope and Change" fraud is any different? Paleeze.

"I believe if we began impeachment proceedings we will be engulfed in more of the politics that has made Washington dysfunction." -Sen. Obama

The fix is already in, my friend...Obama in '08.

ysbaddaden's picture

Dr. Acula @ 92:

ysbaddaden @ 86:

If boosh authorized the CIA leak

Who shook him off afterwards?

The piss boy, of course.

And you would tell him to turn his head and cough?

Johnny2Bad's picture

shutterbug98 @ 95:

Nevada Blue @ 7:

My dream is that as soon as Barack Obama finishes reciting the oath of office he will begin his inaugural address by indicating Bush and Cheney and utter the words "Will the Secret Service please take these men into custody."

Funny, that's been a dream of mine, too!! I guess great minds think alike.

"Dream" is right. Wake Up!

tina's picture

Republicans lie, lie, lie because they can. It's not a crime, so they do it again and again. They are amoral. Very bad Christians if you will but very good at avoiding prosecution.

The only way to catch them is to get them in court -- just like they did with Bill Clinton -- and nail them for perjury.

clb72's picture

Shouldn't a Son of Sam law apply here? -- the government should seize the proceeds from this book. Otherwise, next guy will say, sure I'll be a shill for a bunch of liars in the white house-- it'll make for a great book deal!

MarcyJ's picture

KYJurisDoctor @ 11:

Of course, there is NO doubt in my mind Scott is telling the truth.

While I don't know about any of you commenting on this site or reading from home or work, I can tell you that I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT BOOK to find out "what happened" to the idealist George Bush I voted for in 2000 (notice there is NO mention of 2004).

I'm buying one just to boost his book sales! C'mon people, you want to drive the righties right over the top? Put this little gem right to the top of the NYT Best Seller List.

Death Star's picture

Hey guys we have been fighting defensively for 7 years, lets attack the reds where they live, remind them over and over of the deaths of Paul Sanford (reporting working in WH press, asked "if outing Valorie Plame was treason" then all of the sudden he is found laying dead from a 5 story fall, that seems very odd Hmmmm.

tyree's picture

Johnny2Bad @ 97:

Markus @ 67:

I-M-P-E-A-C-H !!!

Of course the justice department is in Bush's hands, so that won't do any good.

Where are the Jedi when you need them?

What planet are you on? Who's going to impeach them??? The Dems???

"Impeachment is off the table"- Rep. Pelosi.

"Well, I respectfully suggest to anyone that suggests impeachment, that it's a very foolish idea." -Sen. H. Reid

You think the "Hope and Change" fraud is any different? Paleeze.

"I believe if we began impeachment proceedings we will be engulfed in more of the politics that has made Washington dysfunction." -Sen. Obama

The fix is already in, my friend...Obama in '08.

the left hand washes the right hand, see what i mean folks nothing changes thier all the same , nobodys going to jail, buisness as useual , reach out to the repigs , hands across the aisle, you polish my turd ill polish yours, we got to stick together or theyll hang us seperatly, ofrom one crook to another, lets not make waves , see how that works for yah!

St. Paul Scout's picture

Dr. (Bitter Hussein) Matt @ 34:

Rupert Murdoch predicts landslide for Democrats

So 'murdering' murdoch would like to meet Obama, and had a hand in actualy supporting him. If I was Obama and that son of a bitch called and said lets talk, I would tell him to fuck himself so fast it would make his head spin. Also, murdoch, we don't want or need anything from you. Just go away and die mother fucker.

C&L fan's picture

Watch that again.

"McClellan defends bombshell book"!?!?!?

Johnny2Bad's picture

St. Paul Scout @ 105:

Dr. (Bitter Hussein) Matt @ 34:

Rupert Murdoch predicts landslide for Democrats

So 'murdering' murdoch would like to meet Obama, and had a hand in actualy supporting him. If I was Obama and that son of a bitch called and said lets talk, I would tell him to fuck himself so fast it would make his head spin. Also, murdoch, we don't want or need anything from you. Just go away and die mother fucker.

Obama's not going to do that....He's a uniter not a divider.

"Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee." -TimesUK.com

VegasRage's picture

DAMAGE CONTROL WILL ROBINSON !! DAMAGE CONTROL WILL ROBINSON !! DAMAGE !! DAMAGE !! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES !!

rend's picture

cool sideburns,, very 1973 chic!

rend's picture

"you sound like a left wing blogger,,,," oh you mean he is getting it right finally?

why is Karl Rove quoted? does she have amnesia?

George's picture

It's really neat that Scott McClellan now realized he was lied too, congratulations, welcome to 2003. None of this is new, we've all known the leak came straight from them top

George's picture

It’s really neat that Scott McClellan now realized he was lied too, congratulations, welcome to 2003. None of this is new, we’ve all known the leak came straight from the top.

see this article...

http://pubrecord.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74:bus...

peaceful easy feeling's picture

St. Paul Scout @ 105:

So 'murdering' murdoch would like to meet Obama, and had a hand in actualy supporting him. If I was Obama and that son of a bitch called and said lets talk, I would tell him to fuck himself so fast it would make his head spin. Also, murdoch, we don't want or need anything from you. Just go away and die mother fucker.

Murdering Murdoch? Oh, OK. Back to reality, the guy is a businessman, not an ideologue, so it was easy to predict he'd warm up to whomever was coming into power. Considering the wide variety of news, opinion and entertainment choices available on cable, satellite and the 'net, the extreme negative focus on Murdoch and Fox doesn't seem rational. Of course severing ties with your best friend because of they way they voted isn't rational either, but it does happen.

infp's picture

I love how members of the media who were always afraid to ask the Bush Administration tough questions are now willing to show how brave they are by grilling McClellan. The media's newly found bravery is a little late and misplaced.

C&L fan's picture

infp @ 115:

I love how members of the media who were always afraid to ask the Bush Administration tough questions are now willing to show how brave they are by grilling McClellan. The media's newly found bravery is a little late and misplaced.

Exactly. Hence the "defends his bombshell book." Why is he put on the defensive?

Ruthless People's picture

Impeach now the wait to prosecute after the election after we know we won't have a "law and order" president McCain to pardon these criminals.

Johnny2Bad's picture

Ruthless People @ 117:

Impeach now the wait to prosecute after the election after we know we won't have a "law and order" president McCain to pardon these criminals.

Never f*kcing happen. NEVER.

bettestreep's picture

Congress should immediately subpoena McClelland and demand he prepare a SWORN statement re EVERYTHING he knows about the Bush administration and their criminal activities.

Why the urgency? Well blind freddie can see McClelland having an "accident" in the next few days - and without his testimony - Bush and co. will escape criminal prosecution!

Geez - Nixon is looking more like Gandhi compared to this mob!

And to think some people are still vigorously supporting Bush and his criminal pals...

Shame shame shame

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

Fortunately, there are no statutes of limitation on treason and war crimes.

FreedomOfInformationAct's picture

mrbadmood @ 77:

Hm. Well, Bush did say that anyone leaking info in his administration would not be working in his administration anymore. Perhaps its time to help our president keep his word.

I'm also wondering what this could do to the status of Libby's pardon. If there are grounds to prove Bush pardoned Libby in an effort to cover his own ass, would it be possible to overturn the pardon? Probably not.

Accountability of any kind has not been the current Administration's strong suit, and as long as it has the Mukasey stranglehold on the Justice Department I doubt things will change much.

But chickens do, after a time, have a way of coming home to roost. I'm wondering whose mug shot we will see first, and how long we will have to wait.

Time to appoint a special prosecutor and convene another grand jury, against Bush AND Libby and those that conspired to cover their crimes.

VegasRage's picture

Johnny2Bad @ 118:

Ruthless People @ 117:

Impeach now the wait to prosecute after the election after we know we won't have a "law and order" president McCain to pardon these criminals.

Never f*kcing happen. NEVER.

Exactly, McCain has no chance of winning the election, I think he knows it too. Bush and the neo-cons have destroyed ALL hope for a republican taking office again for at least 4 more years. You can put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Proud American's picture

..........It is unfair to castrate Mc Clellan for coming out. He deserve more credit than that. We have been waiting for some insider to have the courage to uncover the insider crimes of the Bush Administration. Now we have it; people is still criticize (GOP and DEM alike).

Unlike "deepthroat of the Nixon Watergate", Mc Clellan was and is in his book....was forthright....and had documented and accumulated and gathered all the misgivings, deceptions, falsifications, manufactured NIE, manipulations, and the unseen threats being secretly done behind close doors of the White House.

Sure he should have been loyal up to a certain point. But how can anyone in his position do that when he knows that his life as well as his family may be at risk of perhaps assination?

By coming out publicly; he accomplished several goals. He outed the crimes behind White House doors; Outed Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Bush Administration and Media complicities. Doing it publicly in essence gave him some security that if there is any attempt to assinate him for disloyalty; the public will know who would be prime suspect. It would be crazy for anyone make such an attempt........

The more he remains in the public circle and in the media; the more he remain SAFE.

He is very well advice to accept Congress call for him to testify. This would give him more SECURITY......since he will be seen as KEY WITNESS........

dave s's picture

The prez played his spokesperson - his spokesperson played us .

Scottie turned when he learned

Bush was a liar. He still is.

Cheney was a liar. He still is.

McClellan was a liar. He isn't lying now. Unfortunately, it took a book deal to get him to tell the truth. Money talks. In that respect, Scottie's still a Bushie at heart.

don myers's picture

Time for a special investigator (overdue). I don't care about impeachment but I want charges and trials. If it comes after these guys leave, that's OK. Maybe the next President won't pardon any of them.

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