May 31, 2008 01:20 PM
McClellan Agrees To Donate Some Proceeds Of His Book To Iraq/Afghanistan Vets
Yesterday, MoveOn launched a petition calling on former White House press secretary Scott McClellan to donate the proceeds from his new book to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. This morning on NBC’s Meet the Press, McClellan promised to give a portion of the profits to these men and women.
It's not all, but a portion. However, without giving McClellan too much credit, it's a damn sight more than any other Bush administration official has done.
Which portion? The portion that's included in his tax bill?
That was quick.
"Portion" - could mean very little. And I think he was forced to do it. The McClellan boys don't do good deeds.
Scotty's brother - didn't he try to destroy Medicare?
Well, you don't actually know that. It doesn't have to be publicly done.
McClellan? Screw him. If he's actually trying to right some wrong, fine. If not, fine. I'm glad the books out there so a few more people will turn from these awful people.
"To protect the environment, a certain percent of each newspaper is made out of recycled materials!"
"What percent is that?"
"Zero. What? Zero's a percent!"
scotty's wanting to run for something after this is over. Good move. He's still a tool, but he's trying to seperate himself from the Bushies to get in the Bush hating side of the republican party.
Meet the Press was awful this morning to McCllelan, grilling and eating him up.
Russert was trying to make a point that he was not involved in Plame affair. This should clear Russert's name. Why did Russert do a poor job in selling the war to the American people? He is hypocritical and is a pandering republican.
In retrospect, I think the president may have planted McCllelan to confess for his/Rove's misdeeds. Or McCllelan is sincere in trying to clear his conscience.
What are you talking about? You want to talk about sacrifice?
George W. Bush Jr. said he gave up golf.
For a Republican, that's, like, 2 arms and 1 leg.
I don't think Scottie could donate 100%. Me thinks he's probably going to be out of work for quite a while now.
okay guys, enough. I loathed Scottie when he was PS; but he's obviously in a process of finding his way back to--whatever you wanna call it: the truth; the light; back to himself, his humanity, whatever. The progressive community has an opportunity here of making ourselves different from the lousy scum he's been accustomed to dealing with and help him in this process. Every one of us has had moments, times, episodes, careers in our lives that we've been ashamed of, and have needed a hand-up from someone else to help us to get right. Now why don't we start offering THAT to McClelland instead of continuing with the punching-bag routine?
Besides--the easier we make it for him to come to his senses, and the more hospitable to him we are as he does that, the more likely it is that he'll be wiling and able to give up the info needed to fry the sh**-asses he used to work for.
I wonder if Russert will make donations for making profits off of his propagandizing
Half would be nice!
Get an Idea of what the rest of the World thinks of what is happening in America and American politics at Watching America.
Several so called "journalists" such as KATIE COURIC now publicly acknowledge their role in promoting this INVASION of Iraq (it's not a war). Is she too donating part of her inflated salary to help the men and women of our military who have been effected by this?
andy @ 10:
Instead of calling them "Talking Heads" we should start calling them "Babbling Heads"
"However, without giving McClellan too much credit, it’s a damn sight more than any other Bush administration official has done. "
Ain't that the truth. The criminal Bush regime are takers. They take our tax dollars, the blood of our soldiers and our military to use for their own self-serving political and http://www.aztlan.net/oiltanker.htm financial http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Cheneys_stock_options_rose_3281_last_1011.... interests.
Impeach.
Indict.
Imprison.
It would be a good time to review the career track John Dean ended up on when he spilled the beans on Nixon. He wasn't exactly getting the high rolling offers after Nixon fell.
And, if memory serves, while Dean was bothered by the illegality of Nixon's criminal Administration, it was Dean's wife who put her foot down and told him to come clean or she was walking. If true, he ended up doing the right thing and coming out alright in the long run, but he needed some prodding to do it.
It isn't easy to walk away from a deadly cult. And it takes time to deprogram yourself.
Maybe McClellan really is as conflicted and fallable as he seems.
And if any other Bushie is contributing any part of their truly ill-gotten gains on vets, I sure don't know who they are.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/060108a.html
Danny East Village has it, McCelellan has broken with his past life, that takes sand, no he has not earned our love or our undying gratitude, but he HAS made an important statement for history, so when the syncophants say in the future that history of the poor maligned Bush (jr) administration is written they can't say it was written by evil libruls!! So step away from the hate for this fellow, he is coming to the light, LET HIM DO SO
Tom
It takes a lot more guts to come out after the fact, when you know you've done wrong, than to quit before you know you're about to do wrong, when people quit an administration they realize is fascist, like O'Neill did that's to be admired respected and shows O'Neill is a man of integrity...yet if you're a person of integrity already, that's easy to do...however if you're not clear on the difference between right and wrong and tend to be loyal but later on learn that your loyality is to fascists and you have the courage to come out against them when they still have the power and the media still behind them then that takes twice as much courage...because you have to admit you were naive or weak or both. I equate Scotty to the winter soldier whom I consider the bravest of the brave, it takes a hell of a lot of guts to come out in public knowing your sins will be aired all over the place...yet you do it anyway for freedom, the constitution...because it's the right thing to do, these winter soldiers deserve our highest respect despite their war crimes, at least they committed those crimes out of naivity or ignorance...not deliberately like Cheney or Blackwater mercenaries who kill for money!
To show he's totally sincere Scotty should give all of the proceeds of his book to the Vets and their organisations like IVAW...he should also give to organisations like code Pink and Democracy Now who have been against this war from the beginning and other protest groups whom defend our freedoms and the constitution day in and day out.
Some of the proceeds, at least half, should go to the Iraqi families we bombed and the millions of children we have maimed and are in need of medical care and food and clean water!
And it gets to be tax deductible.
Money? He thinks MONEY is the answer here?
The next step obviously should be:
McClellan voluntarily enlists in the army because he believes in America and the war he helped start and gets sent to Iraq.
Where he gets to observe his handiwork one on one one and gets to wear substandard protection, loses a limb and experiences all the comforts of the veteran's administration.
-gala1
-gala1
".. it’s a damn sight more than any other Bush administration official has done. "
however small, this is true. it is also a good thing to see that for whatever reason the vast difference between mcclellan and say, someone like gonzales who never owned up to anything even under oath. props to scotty for at least belatedly coming to his senses even partially.
DannyEastVillage, thank you, thank you, thank you, for your kindness, generosity, and sense of forgiveness. I've been saddened by the contempt heaped on Scott McClellan by some liberals who, in my opinion, are helping the Bush admin by making Scott the story instead of the admin's lies. Just as hardly anyone is perfectly good, hardly anyone is perfectly bad, and McClellan is no exception. Of all the Bush insiders he's the ONE PERSON to step forward and point a finger at them, and this is how we treat him? Abandoned and attacked by conservatives, we leave him no quarter by slamming our doors in his face as well? I thought that we're better than that. Scott McClellan is not the enemy. Bush, McCain, and the mainstream media are.
Tax Deductible
I agree with DannyEastVillage. For the reality of the rest of us, McClellan has done us a big favor. He has blown the lid, not to mention shattered the pot, of this administration and is willing to put his version of the truth on record in Congress. For that we should thank him. If indeed his testimony is heard, it could serve as the impetus to bring these criminals to answer for their atrocities. Up till now, no one else has been able to get this necessary machinery started up.
excuse me, didn't russert, blitzer, o'reilly and too many others to name just echo the white house press releases like the good little sucophants (a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.) they are? how much are they going to chip in?
c'mon guys. One thing at a time. It takes time to dig yourself into the shithole Scott's been inhabiting all these years. It will take time completely to find his way out. Without getting into an argument about whether what he has done is sincere or too little too late, or what-have-you, you can be sure that he knows what kind of "person" Dick Cheney is (you know--the kind who would shoot his bud in the face) so Scott knows he's treading on very, very dangerous territory--the kind of territory where they kill you if you don't say the right thing. Remember Cheney having that elderly man arrested when the dude said to him, "Your policies are reprehensible"? Had him ARRESTED. What kind of chance do you think Scott has of living to testify if Conyers invites him? Scott HAS TO KNOW what kind of people these are. If he doesn't, I pray he will not have to learn the hard way; the way he's having to do it now is hard enough. Sucking up bullets is a lot different from sucking up pride.
excuse me, didn’t russert, blitzer, o’reilly and too many others to name just echo the white house press releases like the good little sycophants (a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.) they are? how much are they going to chip in? please excuse previous typo.
http://www.bercasio.com/movies/dems-wmd-before-iraq.wmv
I wouldn't donate shit. We are where we are because the Democrats are also a bunch of dumm assess. Bush took advantage of America imbecility, and McClellan is doing the same with Bush. He should enjoy that money.
good point mike says:...all those who voted for Bush or voted Republican, all those who got suckered into this war owe the vets and the Iraqi people something, the oil companies owe the Iraqi people and the Vets big time.... yet the only ones who seem to really be doing anything substantial for the Iraqi people and our Vets are the progressive left side of the Democratic party!
Oh, by the way, anyone besides me get a kick out of Bob Dole's righteous indignation over Scottie?
Dole, the man who was in charge of Nixon's re-election committee, (I still can't believe they called it the Committee to Re-Elect the President - CREEP - with a straight face).
Anyway, Dole was the head of CREEP and it was through CREEP that the creeps laundered all the illegal slush fund money - through Mexico - that paid for all the crimes that were part of Watergate.
When it all hit the fan, Dole claimed ignorance, even though he was in charge and even though millions of dollars were illegaly laundered through CREEP. The bogus "investigation" of Watergate, run by Republican Arlan Spector, let Dole off.
Dole, along with Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, Bush Sr. and a bunch of other corrupt sleazebags, have left a trail of slime going back almost 50 yrs. now.
So of course he's outraged that Scottie broke the law of Omerta.
What a douchbag.
Move On has a lot of nerve sticking their nose in. He has already done the country a big service.
I used to belong to move on but all they did was ask for money. I support the ACLU and 4 charities monthly so I dropped out.
The ACLU has done a lot for people since the constitution went dow the tubes.
Move On has it backwards....
We should be rewarding and encouraging everyone who has info that could bring these criminals to justice to submit it ASAP.
I realize someone is making money from this, but as long as it isnt the MSM (protection blanket) Haliburton, KBR, Blackwater or the White House, im perfectly fine with it. We have to realize that McClellan is doing his best to bring down this President and VP. Before Scotty, all we had were slingshots. Now we have cannons. He is on our side and we need to show support.
Karl
McClellen needs to give all the proceeds to the Iraqi people and Vets with PTSD about 50% to each...and he should challenge any media mavon who questions him about the proceeds to do the same to give up all their huge salaries to the VETS and Iraqi children.
Kewl Beans @ 23:
And? It's still a decent gesture all the same.
I don't know who Nicole is referring to but Bush and Cheney have been extremely generous in their charitable donations. For anyone else in the administration who has written a book, I'm sure they have been too. Doesn't matter if someone designates that profits from a book go directly to a charity or if they donate afterwards, or before, or whenever they choose. In Scottie's case, it just means an arm of George Soros' empire has influenced him once again and by donating the profits up front, he can't weasel out of it.
Weasel being the operative word here.
He should donate all of the proceeds. It would drive that thorn in the side of the W Administration even deeper.
I would rather Move-on petition the War profiters to donate their ill-gotten gains rather than those coming forward to
expose the Bush Administration.
Nicole it's o.k. to give credit when due and McClellan deserves credit for being forthright even at this late stage knowing full well he'll branded a Judas within the conservative movement.
I think more would come forward if it wasn't for the wing-nuts controlling the message on the MSM.
We should encourage and support those who wish to come forward.
The hypocrisy here overflows in buckets. Two gullible peons of the war machine now trying desperately to assume a moral high ground by throwing pennies at families whose lives have been permanently ruined by their propaganda. No mention, of course, of the Iraqi people. They don't exist for these beltway degenerates.
Having had the chance to work with Scott during the Bush Governorship, and having lived in Tx for nearly 30 years in the media, I can say Scott is not a bad person, in fact, he's better than average.
He like many other Americans believed the hype, the BS that BUSH was an honorable man. He like others was swept up in the media hysteria, the propaganda manufactured for BUSH. I blame corporate America much more than the minions that have worked for the asshole called GWB.
Corporate America sold this bogus human being to the US and now, it won't even take responsibility for doing it. They are going to try and remanufacture McSame in the same fashion... buyer BEWARE!
Well god damn, let's make him a saint.
I'm sorry, but McClellan, no matter how many books he writes and denunciations he makes, will always remain the puffy-faced little whore and propagandist.
I suppose it's not worth even caring that much. Oh well.... Enjoy your fifteen minutes, Scotty. Enjoy the fact that those among us without those useful faculties for critical thinking and long term memory might see you as a decent human being for once and, most importantly, enjoy your book sales.
By the way, real big thing you're doing there, donating a portion of the proceeds to the troops. I'm sure it makes up for all those years you spent rocking back and forth on your portly little stumps behind the podium, reciting talking points and doing absolutely nothing for the ass end of your boss's policies -- well, nothing good at least.
Although i will give a bronze star (less precious than gold or silver, but slightly more coveted than the pewter star) for creativity in marketing... Positive gesture toward the troops = more book sales? No, i suppose i've trespassed here.... I mean, waiting until it's convenient and profitable to offer some meaningful dissent is one thing, but feigning sincerity and adoration while cynically and callously using other people for your own selfish ends... that's so... Republican...
There is blood on your hands too, Scotty.
What's with the "not to give him too much credit" stuff?
Seriously, this guy is doing right. He's come out against the administration, he's gone on the record with stuff that no one else had, he's turned his back on that bunch of crooks, and now he's donating some of his proceeds to the vets.
Surely there must come SOME point, where you can overlook the fact that he was a mouth piece for crooks, who may in fact have just been genuinely deceived by those he worked for?
If and when they throw Dana Perino under the bus, she won't be writing any tell-all books. Doesn't know about the Bay of pigs... probably doesn't know much of anything. Let her appear in Playboy or Hustler to get some cash when her job at the White House is gone...
Geez, some of you are as closed minded as the Republican radicals. Give the guy some credit.
He is giving some of the proceeds.
Don't come down very hard on him for not giving everything.
As an author, I can tell you that books usually don't pay that much (though this one deserves to).
And SM is in for a very lean time as his former friends not only abandon, but try to break him.
Ask John Dean how sociopathic Republicans treat those they feel betrayed them.
He will probably need every penny he can scrape together, especially if he has legal fees to consider.
It's a nice gesture, but something still smacks of disingenuous to me when he says he "intends to" donate money. I'm sure he will, but my doubt isn't based on his donation of proceeds. The credibility gap for me here is that McClellan has ALREADY made money from this book. In publishing, an author is paid an advance well before the book has come out. In this case, McClellan's advance is almost certainly 6 figures, maybe even 7. If he was truly sincere about his intentions, then he would have already made the donation. But clearly he hasn't.
give him time, folks, give him time. it takes time to get into that hole he was in; give him some time to dig back out. Meanwhile the progressive community COULD afford to be just a little more generous to HIM. Some of the Righteousness I'm reading here is awfully reminiscent of a conservative "Christian" website. C'mon guys..lighten up a bit and see where he goes. Much more good can come of this if we treat him well.
KarlCremslinier @ 32:
just thought that needed repeated...
every single one of us, at some time in our lives, has needed--even depended on--someone else to show us mercy and forgiveness. It's NOT going to hurt the progressive community to remember that and show some NOW. And it may very well inspire others to act as Scott has done if they can just feel safe doing so. PLEASE think about where we want the discourse to go. We dont want, in our anger, to be LIKE THEM.
Hey Gala @#20
"Money? He thinks MONEY is the answer here?"
Bitch about it to MoveOn, they're the ones who brought it up, he's just agreeing to do it. He didn't have to.
I think I'm inclined to cut him some slack now because I do find what he said credible. If you've ever gotten out of an abusive relationship, you'd recognize some of this:
First you try to stay loyal and committed to the relationship, even in the face of evidence that the one you have commited yourself to isn't what you thought.
Then, when you realize the truth, you have to start processing it all and how to stand up to someone you had given so much power to. And, if the abuser is truly dangerous - and Bush is - you have to figure how to get out with your skin intact.
Even after you leave, it takes time to really accept the truth about how abusive they really were.
And its always a surprise how everyone else already knew how awful the abuser was.
I don't think he's done processing it yet because he's still defending Bush, even though what he says is a confirmation of how horrible Bush is.
If you're McClellan and you have finally woken up to what these people are, wouldn't you also realize that you're not very safe if you speak up? Imagine being him when Bush blithely admitted it was him behind outing Plame? Outing Plame did incalcuable damage, and Bush admitted it as if it were nothing. If Bush was willing to do that, why would Scottie feel safe busting him on it while still working for him?
DannyEastVillage, thank you for your comment, and Sen. Dole should be ashamed, was any thing that Scott said a lie. This honor among thieves stance of his is a MTF moment.
"There is blood on your hands too, Scotty."
Yeh there IS blood on Scott's hands--and on the hands of every one of us who have continued to pay taxes during this war. it's heartbreakingly true, but not really a very useful critique at this point.
It's also more than Obama ever donated to our troops. Damnit, if you donate $1 to our troops you donated more than Obama.
uh...nyguy, your point being...??
James @ #41 "Ask John Dean how sociopathic Republicans treat those they feel betrayed them. He will probably need every penny he can scrape together, especially if he has legal fees to consider"
Exactly, one way or another, he's going to need a whole slew of lawyers. And for all you accusers, he has walked away from a life of wealth and influence. He could have spent the rest of his working life raking in Republican rewards, making big bucks for nothing. Now, neither side really welcomes him and he is damaged goods. He didn't have to do this, he could have just walked away.
I still say Im no fan of Scott, but he has at least provided information that should help to make more Americans finally aware of what how awful the criminals in the White House really are - so we should be glad of that. And the fact that he has agrees to donate a portion of the book proceeds demonstrates at least a little contrition for the lies he told.
I don't think he should donate all the proceeds though, as I think he made need some of that money for the body guards........
He's definitely going to need the bodyguards. Remember Cheney shot his bud in the face and had that elderly guy arrested for simply saying, "your policies are reprehensible." That was all--just that. Had him arrested. What do you think he'll do to Scott to prevent his testifying at HJC hearings?d
birdflewover @ 33:
Hear, hear! I would also agree with your earlier comment that proceeds should also go to the IVAW, whose courage to say NO to American militarism has made them, like their predecessors who protested another illegal and immoral war in Vietnam, the true heroes of this country. It takes a hell of a lot more courage to say NO to illegal orders than it does to blindly obeying whatever the military says. To do this would help to give more recognition to the IVAW, especially since the Winter Soldiers testimony has received almost no coverage from the mainstream media.
"It’s also more than Obama ever donated to our troops. Damnit, if you donate $1 to our troops you donated more than Obama."
Hey nyguy, Obama is more of a target right now than anyone in this country has been in decades, and don't think he and his wife don't know it every time he stands up in public. And everytime he stands up, he stands up for ending this war and bringing our troops home.
Who else is putting it on the line like that? Are you?
And who else running for president, besides Obama, has been fighting this war of aggression from the very start? What other candidate is saying what Scotie just confirmed, that this war was built on lies?
You don't like Obama? That's your choice, but you're in the wrong place to try to pretend Obama isn't doing anything for the troops.
Yeh what rooth hussein said...this ISN'T the place for internecine squabbling among democrats. I dont see the hat being passed "for the troops" anywhere in Congress. The argument is silly and has no place here. Tell me about Hillary's commitment to the troops--or your boy McCain the veteran. Zillions and zillions of dollars are given to the contractors--WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY--and McCain says he'll continue those policies--but the comparatively small amount needed to treat our veterans...TOO MUCH.
But this comment line isn't about that. Maybe we could stay on topic about how the progressive community ought to treat Scott?
DannyEastVillage @ 45:
I don't think you're interpreting the sentiment correctly. It's not personal anger that is being expressed. It's being more diligent in rooting out hypocrisy and opportunism when we see it in the media. There is a healthy resentment at seeing people coming out with the truth when it is too late to do anything about it in order to make money on a book. Tenet, McClellan, et. al. acted cowardly and damaged our country. I'm sure they don't view themselves this way, but they are.
Scotty is welcome in my tent if he wants to go progressive. It's not personal.
Give Scott the benefit of doubt, it is hard when the person who you believe in turns out the person who you thought was being honest with isn't. I think he felt shock when he found out the people he was defending lied to him. That takes a lot of time to sink in your brain what you thought true really isn't. If you have experienced this, you know what I mean. It takes courage to admit to yourself that maybe you were wrong.
rooth hussein @ 55:
"... he stands up for ending this war and bringing our troops home." I really do wish that fans of Obama would engage in being more honest about their candidate. For the next six months, the citizens of this country will be told that Obama is an anti-war candidate. The truth is far different than the spin put forth by Obama and his acolytes. What very few Obama supporters will acknowledge is that their man is advocating a phased, NOT an immediate, withdrawal of those troops from that abattoir in Iraq. Even after his phased withdrawal is finally completed, this [alleged] anti-war candidate then wishes to leave 80,000 troops in Iraq or in the region. Not exactly the best way to support the troops, now is it? Obama, the [alleged] anti-war candidate, also wishes to leave a substantial number of American contractors in Iraq. Doing these two things is not exactly the best way of winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people, now is it? Obama, the [alleged] anti-war candidate, also wishes to leave a substantial amount of American forces in Afghanistan, the so-called "good war", where American bombs have destroyed Afghan villages and homes, and killed thousands of innocent people. But it is quite doubtful if you will hear Obama stating that obvious fact. Not exactly the best way to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people, now is it?
Support the troops. Bring the home-ALL of them-now.
To hell with that, when all the pundits and news men who swallowed the Bush
program hook, line and sinker and made millions writing books and giving speeches
start coughing up some big bucks then they can start to tell
the McCellens of the world what they should do.
This is such bullshit. At least Scottie has the guts to question what was done and why. These other ass holes Russert, Matthews,Hume and all the rest
still think that they have credibility, and refuse to admit that they
were too stupid and too lazy and too intimidated to report the truth when it was right there in front of them. This book does not make McCllen a saint, but compared to the afore mentioned slime balls he looks pretty damn good.
DannyEastVillage @ 57:
my vote? like a POS.
1/2 would be a good start. But even that would be woefully inadequate.
No doubt about it. Mclellan is a stand up dude! He should run for President. We could use a stand up guy in the white house for a change.
JJ
[Deleted-Sitemonitor]
I think we have to go back to the time line in which McClellan was working at the WH. Then cross reference that to the time line of the Plame case.. Then study his body language. And listen to him thoughtfully. Only then will we be able to see him for what he really is. Is he lying now?
Just to sell a book?
nyguy @ 50:
didn't you vote for Dinkins? what happened since then?
Jason Tallismon @ 64:
ROTFLMBBAO!
:<[)
erroll@60
My son has just been told he is headed for Iraq in Feb. Most of his ROTC friends from high school are going or have been there. All kids that I know.
Believe me, I want them all out NOW.
But, since you're criticizing Obama, please tell me what choice I have in November that is more likely to get the end you desire?
Seriously, no philosophical rants, no ideological wish-list, you tell me who to vote for that has a shot at winning who will do what you want quicker than Obama?
I was as critical of McClellen as anyone when he was PS. He was a broken record of talking points. Simply the Bush front man like every other Bush PS. However, I respect his coming clean now. I say, better late than never. Also, better while Bush is still President. I am sure his book will sell very well and he will probably be well compensated. If he wants to donate some of the proceeds to a worthly cause, that is great, but he should not be pressured by a bunch of activists and pundits to do so.
If the activists and pundits want to tap someone for charitable support, they should go after those that created the shameful policies like Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Feith, Wolfowitz, Libby, Rice, Gonzales, et al. And the promoters like Kristol, Rove, Freidman, et al.
Give Scott a break. He is trying to come clean. He may make a few bucks, but he is surely burning his bridges.
I'm willing to cut him a break. At least he's saying something (yeah, too little too late, I know) and is publicly acknowledging what we've been thinking for years. I watched him on Olbermann and he sounded honestly scared at the thought that the Bush Administration is banging the same war drums about Iran. From the interviews, he honestly does seem like a guy who went in thinking it would be one way, then got way in over his head and probably convinced himself to believe so he could stay sane, and is now realizing what a terrible mistake it all was.
Nice that he's giving some to vets. Don't know when he's gonna get a job again, so he probably should hang on to some for himself.
I've always felt that White House Press Secretary has to be one of the most miserable jobs of all time. No matter the party.
Folks -
Give the man some space... Is he just pitching his salacious book. Yup. But, the stained White House cannot refute him!
Yes - it would be great to give all the money... But, as many here are saying, he will be unemployed for awhile. Why not embrace him and invite him to giv back, become an active anti-voice assisting .. MoveOn? IAVA? or other group? Kinda like the anti-Lieberman!
Folks...the movement is here! We are breaking the 25 year old memes floating around! Don't lose the game worrying about 1 out!
Jesse @ 40:
That understanding and sentiment seems to have escaped so many. this unrepentant mouthpiece of evil glibly sits back and spreads blame to everyone but himself, all the while pretending that those truly responsible were just getting bad advice or were unaware of all the facts or were given the wrong information.
Bullshit.
Erroll @ 60:
so now after that extensive hateful rant re: Obama, we are going to hear later from you about how Obama supporters are hateful and vicious.
Naturally.
how do you suck on the bush stomach bile for eight years(and longer) and only NOW start looking around for something to cleanse your palate? and your soul?
Bobsf wrote,
Since when is it too late to do something about it? Bush still could be (and should be) impeached. McCain could and should (but is not guaranteed to) lose the election. More congressional seats could turn over in favor of Democrats if voters are reminded of Republican mendacity. Enablers in the media, like Tim Russert, Brian Williams, and Charlie Gibson, could be forced by embarrassment into a modicum of self-examination. And, we need to drive every nail we can find into the coffin of the "preventive war" policy, which always could rear its ugly head in some future Republican administration.
The Bush administration (abetted by the media) committed a horrendous crime against democracy in 2003 and like other terrible crimes there should be no statute of limitations on this one. It's never too late to see justice done, and if Scott McClellan helps our case, all the better.
The fact that Scotty has come forth, before Bush is gone, and told the truth, will hopefully make way for an avalanche of those who need to cleanse their souls. If McClellan does support Obama, then perhaps there is real hope for a bipartisan Administration. I applaude his courage, no matter what others say about his motives. It takes YEARS for the negative effects of so much Kool-Aid to disappear!
I don't care whether McClellan is sincere or not. I don't care whether he donates a meaningful amount of money to veterans or just pennies. All I care about is that his book and his current television appearances provide the Democrats with more ammunition to use against the GOP and Senator McCain.
I don't even care if he secretly tortures puppies to death (so long as the GOP doesn't find out about it and use it against him). The only important facts are that he has switched sides. We should be offering him support (regardless of our opinion of him) so we can encourage other former administration officials to abandon the sinking ship.
DannyEastVillage @ 10:
Thanks! As I was reading down all the posts, I wanted to say something along the same lines then came upon yours.
McClellan didn't have to do this. He could've quietly sunk back into the sewer pit of the Bush Criminal Enterprise Alumni. Whether this is money-motivated or a cry of conscience, this is making many of the sewer rats still within the Bush Administration livid -- and that's good.
Yeah, we can read all about the left-wing writers blasting Bush Co., but who other than other lefties are going to buy the book? But when it comes from within, it packs a bigger punch with a potential of reaching and enlightening more people.
Just a heads up.
redstate.com has pointed out that the "dumbest guy on the fucking planet" (Feith) is donating all of the revenues from his book to charitable organizations to benefit the troops.
jharp @ 79:
I hope the troops enjoy their five bucks.
Aren't there bigger, more important issues for Moveon to worry about than what McClellan does with his book money? Come on, give "Sweaty Chump" some credit for actually coming around to reality and doing something good, unlike the plethora of chumps that jumped the sinking Bush ship and only sought to further keep the wretched thing afloat.
Cut him some slack - he could have been like Rove and just kept on being a shithead. I'm sure it's not easy for him, he's the Republicans version of Joe Lieberman.
Bush should have fired Dick Cheney, Condeleeza Rice,Karl Rove and then resigned.
okay. but why do so many people, and so many CHILDREN have to die before somebody in the 'bubble' decides "...it's time to speak up?" the anti-war community wasted no time saying the obvious and they had to wear some pretty silly costumes and make a scene to do it, and they have been treated not as concerned citizens and a pretty darned good 'canary in the mines' but as traitors and it should be hard for some people to swallow.
a nouns wrote,
Perhaps there are Iranian children who will be less likely to die if John McCain's White House hopes fade due to McClellan's book swiveling the harsh light of scrutiny back onto the last (and continuing) episode of American interference in the Middle East.
There is a resentment when some one comes out after the fact. However McClellan has not told us anything that we did not know or at least suspect.
Democrates had the chance to do something about it as I recall
but Nancy Pelosi took that option off the table. Now that the truth is there for all to see it is pretty much too late to do anything about it, but whine. This failure to take the Bush administration to task after promising that things were going to be different, is why I will not be voting Dem. in the fall. Fell for that line once but will not buy it a second time.
How long till the YouTube video of some Dem sobbing into the camera, "Leave Scotty alone! Just leave him alone!"??
andy @ 11:
F'n A! Exactly what I was thinking when I heard Russert ask him that, this morning. I'd love to see a recap of Russert's "journalism" starting from about October 2002, when the war-machine was starting to get it's hard "on". Didn't Russert let DICK Cheney pretty much mouth-off any/every lie he wanted, unchallenged? Thanks, Little (Dick lickin' Wuss) Russ!
CoIntelPro for Democratic Party Victory @ 73:
Naturally, there is absolutely nothing in your obfuscating comment to refute what I said concerning Obama's [alleged] anti-war positions. I had re-read my comments and I could find nowhere that I had said anything vulgar or profane against Obama nor did I engage in any ad hominem attacks against Obama. Apparently to you [and perhaps to other Obamamaniacs] any criticism, no matter how valid [such as the fact that Obama is almost bought and paid for by Wall Street, such as GoldmanSachs, UBS AG, Lehman Brothers, J P Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse.], of your candidate will be construed as being, to use your less than truthful word, hateful. One can almost be certain that in the next six months [if not the next four years if he gets elected] that if anyone dares to criticize Obama, he or she will also be labeled racist as well.
You stand very little chance of winning converts to your cause by trying to appeal to one's emotions rather than to the intellect.
REDEMPTION,
thy name is Scott...
He can donate all he wants.
It's still all blood money.
DannyEastVillage @ 10:
Couldn't agree more. Glad to know that someone else who posts here has sense enough to realize when a former administration insider offers what amounts to a gift to progressives, tied up in a bow.
DannyEastVillage @ 10:
Amen!
mike @ 28:
You had it right the first time when you typed "sucophants".
DannyEastVillage @ 10:
I totally agree with this.
The ACLU has done a lot for people since the constitution went dow[n] the tubes.
RMHK,
I couldn't let this one go. If the "constitution" has gone "down the tubes" and, by implication, the Fourth Reich has already been installed why:
a) are you still freely expressing your dumbass opinions on blogs?
b) aren't you quietly decomposing in a hole out in the weeds?
Really, pal, get your narrative straight: you and your good-time buddies can't claim that Chimpy McHalliburton is the new Hitler while, at the same time, freely insulting a guy who supposedly can invoke the full faith and credit of the United States government to have y'all whacked on a moment's notice.
Why should he donate a portion of the proceeds? Scotty and wifey already support the troops. Scott said they often send them care packages. What a couple! Mrs. McClellan's homemade chocolate chip cookies are IED resistant.
I'm starting to think Scott may be genuine. A true convert. What was it Ghandi said:
"God lives in the hearts of all men."
Scott may "sleep with the fishes" over on Pennsylvania Avenue, but I'll bet there was more than a couple of Republican moderates that were cheering him on this morning.
Bravo, Scotty, don’t back down you are making the corporate media look like the sycophant wimps they are…you should give all the proceeds of your book to the maimed and starving children of Iraq as well as to the families of injured and dead vets…then demand of all the media assholes to do the same…stay strong Scotty you’re doing your country a great service in waking us up…God knows we need to be told the truth, your courage is exemplary, like the winter soldiers, but you need to give all the proceeds away to prove your doing it for truth and to protect the Constitution and not for money your integrity is on the line! Show your children you're a man above money and corruption!
Bravo, Scotty, don’t back down you are making the corporate media look like the sycophant wimps they are…you should give all the proceeds of your book to the maimed and starving children of Iraq as well as to the families of injured and dead vets…then demand of all the media assholes to do the same…stay strong Scotty you’re doing your country a great service in waking us up…God knows we need to be told the truth, your courage is exemplary, like the winter soldiers, but you need to give all the proceeds away to prove your doing it for truth and to protect the Constitution and not for money your integrity is on the line!
...and if you go on O'Reilly don't let that bully yell at you yell at him right back tell him to his face he's responsible for the deaths of millions of brainwashing the American public and a major factor in destroying morality in our country...like Colbert told Bush and Stewart told Tucker tell him he is hurting America to his face you got to go the distance Scotty or you'll be washed up forever...good luck and courage!
rooth hussein @ 68:
My suggestion is that you vote your conscience, which is what I will be doing by voting for a third party candidate such as Ralph Nader or Cynthia McKinney or Gloria LaRiva. Everyone says that these people have no chance of winning. But when enough people make these claims, then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If enough people do vote for a third party candidate, then that candidate can get elected.
As for your son, you mention that not only is he going to Iraq but so are many of his friends. This is not going to be, as you put it, a philosophical rant but a serious and practical suggestion, which is that you sit down with him and his friends to watch the powerful documentary Sir! No Sir!, which told the story of the GI movement that took place during the Vietnam conflict. The reason would be in order for him and his friends not to duplicate the mistake that I made those many years ago, when I foolishly obeyed those orders that ended up killing many innocent Vietnamese people. The hope is that your son and his friends will realize that what former Green Beret Donald Duncan said in that film certainly applies to what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, when he said that:
"The problem that I had was realizing that what I was doing was not good. I was doing it right, but I wasn't doing right."
Or what David Cline observed in the film, when he said that "your silence is keeping that lie going."
Or director David Zeiger, who correctly noted that the soldiers "are just as capable of anyone of knowing right from wrong."
Do not believe the lie that the military brass wishes those in the military to believe, which is that they had left their brains back in the civilian world. They have not only a right to question things but also a duty and an obligation, as the film points out, to say NO to the U.S. war machine. Every day the U.S.military commits atrocities against the Iraqi and Afghani people. Your son and his friends do not and should not have to be a part of an organization that engages in these acts against these people.
You might also want to tell them what Lt. Watada had said to myself and to other veterans at the Veterans for Peace convention in Seattle in the summer of 2006 when he said:
"The oath we take swears allegiance not to one man but to a document of principles of laws designed to protect the people. Enlisting in the military does not relinquish one's right to seek the truth-neither does it excuse one from rational thought nor the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. 'I was only following orders' is never an excuse."
I am not sure what is worse when it comes to liberals. Is it your spelling, syntax, grammar, grasp of history, or just your complete and total ignorance of geopolitics?
For all of you who talk first and never think later, Douglas Feith gave ALL of the money earned from his book to differing charities representing Iraq veterans and their families. John McCain gave ALL of the money he earned from his book and the subsequent movie to veterans organizations.
I wonder how many of you posting on this have ever given any money to any organizations that represents veterans? I daresay none of you have.
Also just to set the record straight Veterans Administration Medical Centers and Clinics since 2002 have scored equal to or higher then civilian facilities of comparable size and scope. The Veteran's Administration does a dammed good job. To do what a lot of the critics that hammer it would require making the Veterans Administration the largest federal agency in the country. It would require quintupling the size of the Veterans Administration.
That won't happen under any administration. The only time liberals even think of military personnel or veterans is when they believe they can score political points off of them.
That is the problem with liberals these pesky facts get in the way of your stupidity. Why is it that I have never met a liberal that has an IQ higher then 75? Why are liberals so dumb?
Jack @ 101:
What Jack conveniently neglects to mention is that praising conservatives for giving money to veterans' organizations is merely treating the symptom and not the cause of veterans' problems. What Jack is not saying is that more soldiers will continue to come back to this country in flag draped coffins and even more of them will be filling up veterans' hospitals across this country because they have have become seriously burned, blinded, and especially brain damaged, as well as being paralyzed, missing their limbs, and suffering from PTSD, all because of some ambiguous and false noble cause.
Again, to state the obvious, which Jack managed to avoid doing, the best way to make sure that soldiers are not damaged both physically and psychologically is to make sure that they are not placed unjustifiably in harm's way. Otherwise, more of them will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of America's falsehoods and lies for absolutely no justifiable reason whatsoever.
Support the troops. Bring them home-ALL of them-now.
Hey Jack, how much as Bush and Cheney given to Vets and the families of dead and maimed Iraqi children, what about Wolfowitz, Bolten, Rice and a slew of others who put our young women and men in harms way for oil profits, what about Boeing, Exxon, Chevron, etc...good for Feith if that's true though I haven't seen any news on that, where did you get that? though if he did he sure should have...so should other Israel Zionists like Silverstein whom Feith works for, they pushed us into this in the first place...how much have all our Senators given apparently only 23 Senators voted against the invasion, that leaves a lot of corrupt Senators who should be giving their salaries to Vets and maimed Iraqi children...the facts are that this is a war crime end of discussion, a war based on lies, which made us torture, build concentration camps...these are the results, this is our America thanks to Republicans like you!
I have nothing bad to say about Scotty now.
I hated his guts while he was Mouthpiece.
This book is the first step to recovery.
I support his decision to confront reality and stand behind him.
Good for you Scotty.
Jack @ 101:
For all your self-presumed brilliance, you show up unarmed with facts.
"Lapel flag pins," anyone?
Assumptions: Taste great (to neocons), less filling (to intelligent people).
And... The genius conclusion. I think we all saw that coming.
Jack @ 101:
Now, now Jack. Do you really believe this stuff you are saying? That liberals are stupid? Really? Is that how you really feel, or did something just set you off and you are lashing out? Because if I was an independent observer and I compared your post to several others on this thread, I would have to conclude that your comments were the ones that were ignorant and shallow.
You have an odd way to try and convince others of your argument by insulting the hell out of them. Being the reasonable and tolerant (and intelligent) liberal person that I am, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are just blowing off steam. I'll accept your apology and move on. However, if you feel the need to continue your guttural commentary, then I will blow off all of your subsequent posts as troll material and devoid of any substance.
David @ 23:
Scotty was part of this bloody mess from the beginning. He reead the cue cards that lied us into war. He stood up there and defended the traitors that outted Velery Plame. He had years to come clean and he doesn't do it until it's too late the impeach these criminals.
Scotty was the enemy then and by selling his belated confessions he doesn't make things any better. If he went to congress and swore out a weeks worth of free testimony instead of selling books, then he would have made one step closer to forgiveness. But this fat piece of shit is still a repig through and through. Don't kid yourself just because he learned how to expose people for money.
JustSickOfit, why can't you forgive the ONE PERSON to step forward?
And who ever said it's too late to do anything about it ("it" being the Republican propaganda campaign)? Bush still could be impeached. McCain still could lose the election. The war still could be ended sooner rather than later.
Also, why do people have to attack Scott McClellan for his appearance, calling him "fat", "pasty", etc.? What does a person's appearance have to do with his or her politics?
For those who are so quick to hate Scotty. Would it have been better had he remained silent? His book helps sink Bush's credibility. The GOP can try to discredit Scotty but it's too late in the game to have any effect. Bush's reputation is cooked and Scotty has done his part (albeit a trifle later than we would have wished).
It's all good.
David @ 108:
Is this your first visit to a liberal blog, David?
No, Dennis, it's not.
Jack @ 101:
Spelling. It's definitely the spelling.
And as I mentioned above, I hope the vets appreciated the five bucks. Let us know when conservative "authors" who move significant numbers of "books" - Coulter, Limbaugh, O'Reilly - carry out a similar pledge.
I agree. I think the government can be an excellent health care provider. Have a chat with your fellow cons about that, see if you can bring them around to our way of thinking.
Because liberals never visit your mom's basement?
Keep pressuring the bastard...he'll cough up the rest.
NOT. ONE. BLOOD. RED. CENT!
Apparently, the kids over at REDSTATE are claiming that ALL Douglas Feith's book proceeds went to charities for vets. They provided a link to 'prove' this, but it might be worth checking out.
http://www.redstate.com/stories/miscellanea/crooks_and_liars
brandon @ 114:
That was funny. They called Douglas Feith a "good person."
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