Scott McClellan Goes Nuclear On Bush White House

Oh, No: Bad Day At The White House, originally uploaded by NAVROC Command.

Scott McClellan Goes Nuclear On Bush White House

That headline says it all. Former White House Spokesperson Scott McCllellan released a new book called..
What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception

.. that blasts President George Bush, accuses him of creating the "lie" of the existence of Weapons Of Mass Destruction", operating the Adminstration in "campaign mode" with constant propaganda messages, and in the process throwing the Administrations' entire Iraq War and foreign policy rationale into damage control mode, while simutaneously harming Senators John McCain, and Hillary Clinton, and the mainstream media. Only Senator Barack Obama benefited from McClellan's PR Nuclear Bomb, as McCain's strength -- foreign policy -- was just turned into a weakness.

This story dominated the news offline and on. Here's what one Flickr member NAVROC Command wrote:

FORMER WHITE HOUSE Press Spokesman Scott McClellan blasts the Bush White House, the Vice President, the deception leading up to the Iraq War, the Valerie Plume debacle - - Well, the list goes on and on. It's all in his current book: What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception.

White House aides appear stunned by the scathing tone of the book. Press secretary Dana Perino's statement: "Scott, we now know, is disgruntled about his experience at the White House. For those of us who fully supported him, before, during and after he was press secretary, we are puzzled. It is sad - this is not the Scott we knew."

Perino says POTUS is not expected to comment: "He has more pressing matters than to spend time commenting on books by former staffers."

Click to Read: Washington Post: Scott McClellan

Click to Read: Wall Street Journal Extracts

Click to Watch: NBC Tim Russert


White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan and President Bush announce that Mr. McClellan is resigning his position on the South Lawn Wednesday, April 19, 2006. "One of these days he and I are going to be rocking on chairs in Texas, talking about the good old days and his time as the Press Secretary," said the President. "And I can assure you I will feel the same way then that I feel now, that I can say to Scott, job well done."

May 2008 - White House photo by Eric Draper.

But the words don't stop there. On MSNBC's Hardball, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, and other cable shows, members of the White House Press Corp found themselves attacking Scott McClellan and thus on the same side as the Bush Administration! Scott McClellan accused the press of not digging enough to ask hard questions about the Iraq War, and CNN's Jessica Yellen labeled her old employer ABC News as pressuring her to favor stories that backed the Bush Administration's view of the Iraq War and the Mid East. (Yellen did not name ABC, but said her "former employer')

As to how the general public is receiving the story, take a look at these Amazon.com comments on the book:

wake up call, May 28, 2008
By roland (Idaho) - See all my reviews
McClellan has finally come forward, as many other people from the Bush administration have over the past few years, to tell the truth about the most corrupt and deceiving administration in our history. While many people are waking up to reality, reflected in our presidents all time record low approval rating, this book advances the much overdue debunking of Bush and his evil lying crooks in his administration. Being the former spokesperson for this administration gives McClellan's book a special poignancy and undeniable puissance. As if we needed more convincing, this country is in need of change more than at anytime in our past. Its the facts in books like this that have brought me to change parties and to reject the disgusting mess the GOP has become. The republican party deserves all the losses they have been experiencing, and will surely deserve being defeated this November. Bush is a war criminal no doubt about it. The fear mongering and manipulation of us American citizens will not work this time around. McClellan deserves to be commended for his honesty and the timeliness of this books release.
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141 of 212 people found the following review helpful:
Finally....., May 28, 2008
By T. E. Zsolt "Tom From Toronto" (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

Great read, concise and well written. Finally someone with credibility confirms what we all knew was true. Too bad our press couldn't have called this out when it was apparent, a lot could have been avoided.
TEZ
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130 of 200 people found the following review helpful:
A True Texan: McClellan Stands Up for the Truth, May 28, 2008
By Straight Shooter "Texan" (Texas) - See all my reviews
Takes a real Texan to stand up and tell the truth about this failed administration. McClellan even admits his faults but he tells the story like a historian not a political hack. The unfair attacks now coming at him so how pitiful this administration has become. Bush should stand up and apologize to America and to McClellan.

We'll have more on this bombshell story.

New Orleans supports Obama

NOLA is a microcosm of the USA, ethnically diverse and culturally rich. Folks there see reason to GET OUT THE VOTE and participate in our democracy, and many also celebrate Barack Obama's candidacy for the Democratic nomination. Check out the smiling faces, and no matter who you support make sure everybody votes!

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A Presidency which promises to make the USA bright and beautiful again.

"As human beings seeking a better world, we recognise a gifted leader when we see one," and this article from John Hay lays out what it looks like from Australia."The only colour I see in Barack Obama, is the colour of the future! It is a hue which promises to make the world a better place."

Citing sound policy positions, diplomatic skills, political and people/management skills, personal ethics, temperament when considering the challenges involved in managing "the most demanding job in the world," in his response to an Obama supporter's concerns, Hay also adds:

"Around the globe people are beginning to feel more safe, more connected and more positive about the future at the prospect of an Obama Presidency. Ask anyone in any country, anywhere. Polls are confirming it. People of all age, race, colour, creed and religion have joined together as one, to work and volunteer, most for the first time, to help bring positive change. The ripple effect of this positive momentum is building like a tsunami as it reaches out and begins to touch the lives of people everywhere. It feels like an election for a world President!"

A great article, with some stirring video by Akin Salawu (known at YouTube as AkinScribe5) from earlier in the campaign season.

"A dreamer is one who can
only find his way by moonlight,
and his punishment is
that he sees the dawn."

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WALL•E Trailer Includes Homage To Star Trek Original TV Series

If you watch this trailer for the upcoming -- as of this writing -- Pixar movie called "Wall-E" to the end, you will see our hero shooting himself through space using a fire hydrant and humming a tune. That tune is from Star Trek, The Original Series, second season eipsodes, and was featured in "The Doomsday Machine" as well as "The Ultimate Computer.

It goes DA-DA-DA-DAA DA-DA-DA-DE-DA, or something like that.

So there's a trivial bit of information you can wow your friends with.

Here's a video of re-mixed scenes from "The Ultimate Computer" where the music plays at 2:20 and various points, even though the clip jumps so much it's hard to get the full tune, but you can pick it up if you listen:

Teacher Sex Scandal Again - Man Had Sex 20 Times With 18-Year-Old Student

Generally, publicly-reported Teacher / Student sex scandals involved women instructors and young boys. Not this time. Even though the girl is 18, this story involves a male teacher at Travis High School and not in Florida, but in Austin, Texas. The teacher, Allen James Cole, faces a charge of "an improper relationship between educator and student", and is a 2nd degree felony.

KXAN in Austin, Texas reports:

AUSTIN, TEXAS (KXAN)-- Austin police arrested government teacher Allen James Cole on the charge of having "an improper relationship" with an 18-year-old Travis High School student.

Another teacher notified police about the inappropriate relationship between Cole and the student. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KXAN.com, the student told police she had met Cole, 34, several times at his apartment between May 6 and May 10. The student told police she had sex with Cole more than 20 times over that 5-day period.

The girl was able to describe the furnishings in the apartment's living room and bedroom. A search warrant confirmed the details the girl identified.

The charge, an improper relationship between educator and student, is a 2nd degree felony.

The Austin Independent School District could not be reached for comment.

But it makes you wonder with all of these accounts posted on Internet websites, in some cases places like Badjocks.com and the "TeacherTrash" blog that cover only these stories or related tales, how many actual relationships like this are out there but not known!

This video explains why -- in that case -- women teachers would decide to wreck their careers for sex with a student.

John McCain Credibility Damaged By Lobbyist Ties

According to many sources, but the best being Josh Marshall in "Talking Points Memo", Senator and Presidential Canidate John McCain is in some PR trouble regarding his loobyist ties, particularly with former Senator and Texan Phil Gramm, who as a lobbyist was representing the bank USB, a swiss bank connected with the mortgage crisis, at the same time he was advising McCain on matters associated with sub-prime lending, which caused the mortgage crisis.

Get it?

Any time you see that kind of circuitous connection with a politician, it's not good ethically. McCain has several ties of this kind, with Charlie Black, and other lobbyists. But the main point is the person who's bragged that he's not influenced by Federal lobbyists or has "cozy relationships", seems to be surrounded by them.

Bishop Desmond Tutu Speech At SF Olympic Torch Protest

While this happened over a month ago, the Olympics have not thus making this news still relevant. And even if the Olympics had past, this would still be memorable because of the comfortable power of Bishop Desmond Tutu as expressed in this speech. Of all of the speakers, including Richard Gere, Tutu was the most powerful one.

DO GO TO MAY 31ST DNC MEETING; DAILY KOS POST IS BULLSHIT

There's a DailyKos posting going around - this one -- that warns for Obama supporters not to protest at the May 31st meeting of the DNC Rules Committee, which will determine how to seat Florida and Michigan Delegates, and could put Senator Obama over the top in the number of total delegates he needs to be the Democratic Presidential Nominee.

That posting is complete bullshit. Unless you've gotten an email directly from the Obama campaign, go to the meeting.

Antioch Woman's Claim Of Being Robbed Of $25,000 Ring False and Tells Economic Story

A woman in Antioch, California filed what turned out to be an allegedly false police report regarding her being robbed of a $25,000 ring. She was caught by police after an investigation and got out of jail after posting $25,000 bail, which means she had to come up with $2,500.

What is of interest is that with many in this economy underemployed or just without a job and with the economy in recession and locally people being robbed in areas like Lake Merritt where robberies didn't occur in the past with as much frequency, is just how many more fake reports of this kind will surface?

The good news is that home prices are coming down, but will it be reflected in monthly payments? No. Will rents fall accordingly? One can only hope so. But the situation as a whole does not look good at all.

Fox News should get the Pink Slip

Dear Zennie,

I just read your comments posted on BuzzFlash. I think it WOULD be expedient (and savvy!) to start a letter writing campaign to Fox and the FCC in response to this outrageous remark to remove Fox's license, as you have suggested, or at the very least have them heavily fined. We The People can write letters to editors of our news outlets as well as the FCC to discredit Fox News. We are in fact obligated to make a very large noise.

I complained a couple of years ago about having Fox blasted through our local grocery store here in Amherst, MA, and wrote the local newspapers as well as calling and writing the store CEO and PR manager. It started an avalanche of letters and calls and they finally had to remove the channel from their regular viewing. So it works. Fox has been off the channel for two years in that public place.

Here is the FCC complaint form: http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

And to call the FCC: Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET to answer your questions and assist you in filing a complaint. Call toll-free at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL- FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY.

Here are the emails to write to Fox to blast them: americasnewsroom@foxnews.com, beltway@foxnews.com, yourwordlive@foxnews.com, Forbes@foxnews.com, Feedback@foxnews.com, Fncspecials@foxnews.com, Newswatch@foxnews.com, Foxreport@foxnews.com, JER@foxnews.com

To call, write or Fax Fox "News" here is the contact info:
Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229

My letter is below to Fox if you want a little inspiration:

"Dear Fox 'News',

Liz Trotta should be fired and you should loose your broadcasting license. Liz Trotta could be implicated in a major felony if her suggestion was ever acted upon.

We The People are petitioning the FCC to have you heavily fined and/or your license removed. Your corporate news ethics are non-existent -- more often lies and scum -- and this latest trick is so low, it has no category. The people who listen to your lies and scum are not the educated people who have influence but useless degenerates of America -- which is exceedingly dangerous.

You shame everything that has meaning for the institutions of journalism."

We can make a BIG noise!

Thanks for all that you do make this a better America,

emily elizabeth

McCain Position On G.I. Bill Could Cost Him Election

Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican Nominee for President of the United States, could have just swift-boated himself into a huge election loss on the matter of his position on the G.I. Bill crafted by Democratic Virginia Senator Jim Webb and backed by many lawmakers, including Republican Virginia Senator John Warner, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Senator Barack Obama, just 49 delegates from becoming McCain's challenger for the prize of POTUS, has smartly used the issue to box McCain into a corner such that McCain has to defend his position against the bill or be forced to come onto Obama's side, which would be seen as an Obama win. Plus, McCain's on the same side as President Bush, who as of this writing has a 27 percent approval rating -- an all time low for Presidents of the United States (that's POTUS).

What the proposed legislation does is simply give more access to money for college for war veterans. That's it. Senator Barack Obama, who's just 49 delegates away from becoming the presumptive Democratic Nominee for President of the United States has come out in favor of the bill. McCain opposes it because he says it would cause people to leave military service.

My question is "What's wrong with that?" I didn't know it was supposed to be forever. Neither did VoteVets.org. They've went so far as to make this ad, which appears on YouTube:



VoteVets.org asks if Senator McCain really supports the troups. That's a hard blow to John McCain's clams that he does and it makes him seem as if he's supporting war but not the people who wage it for America.

Ethical bling? A golden opportunity

According to campaigners for "ethical bling", the wedding rings exchanged in the UK alone in a single year are produced using three-quarters of a million tonnes of poisons, mainly cyanide and mercury. "I didn't really know about some of the things that happen in the jewelery trade. People buy without thinking."

THINK. ACT. NOW.

In addition to the environmental damage and risk to health caused by such practices, thousands of the world's poorest people have been forced from their homes to make way for mines.

THINK. ACT. NOW.

Vivien Johnston, who is setting up the British Ethical Jewellery Association, said jewellers were flocking to the cause, with close to 300 asking to become members. "There's quite a demand for membership. We haven't even been actively looking for any," she said. "I don't know what the response will be like when we really advertise."

Ms Johnston runs her own jewellery business, Fifi Bijoux, in Glasgow, sourcing her gold directly from mines run by collectives such as Ora Verde in Colombia and Eco Andina in Argentina. She has seen sales triple since 2006.

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