Scott McClellan Makes His Rounds

As predicted, Scott McClellan was either a guest or a big topic of discussion on all the Sunday morning talk shows. All week he has promoted his book, "What Happened", a supposed expose' of the Bush White House. He has been both cheered and jeered, most of the jeers portraying McClellan as a low-on-the-totem-pole underling who was not in the loop, attended no policy meetings, and therefore doesn't have the 'insider knowledge' he claims. His book (which doesn't reveal a whole lot anyway) is dismissed as the rambling of an ex-employee out to sell books.

A guest on This Week With George Stephanapoulos proposed that the act of writing itself, helped McClellan think more clearly on his White House tenure. He quoted Scotty Restin of the New York Times who once said during a newspaper strike, "How do I know what I think if I can't read what I write?"

I agree that the process of writing can certainly clarify one's thoughts but how this applies to McClellan, I'm not so sure. More likely, his sentiment was, "How do I know what I think until I know what the publisher is willing to pay?"

‎

Where's The Love, Scott?

So former White House press secretary Scott McClellan has written what is reported to be an 'insider tell-all' book about George W. Bush, full of scathing criticisms of the President and other members of the Bush inner circle. Since I haven't read the book and have only heard a smattering of the leaked material, I haven't formed a full opinion but here are some first thoughts.

My impression of Scott McClellan when he first came on the scene as White House press secretary was that he was a very weak communicator. Perhaps it was because Ari Fleicher always seemed so poised and confident, genuinely relating to the reporters' questions instead of just showing up at the podium to read from prepared statements. Ari was admittedly a tough act to follow, but Scott always seemed like he was in over his head. A bit of a kid, cherub-like, he stammered around, looked uneasy, almost as if he wore an earpiece waiting for someone to feed him lines about what he was to say next.

It is no big secret that McClellan didn't leave his position on his own initiative but was politely asked to leave in favor of the more dynamic and articulate Tony Snow. One can't help but to believe that since that time McClellan has been munching on more than just a few sour grapes. The fact that he is finally 'spilling the beans' on the supposedly nefarious inner workings of the White House in a lucrative book deal is cause for me to take whatever he says with several huge grains of salt.

‎

Heroic Conservatism

For a transcript of the Pew Forum event CLICK HERE.

Or click on the book title for more information on Michael Gerson's book Heroic Conservatism: Why Republicans Need to Embrace America's Ideals (And Why They Deserve to Fail If They Don't).

‎

A New Year's Message From Our President

New Year's Day, 2008

As we enter this New Year, we reflect on the past and look forward to a promising year ahead.

A future of hope and opportunity begins with a robust economy. Thanks to America's workers and entrepreneurs, our economy grew at a vigorous rate last year. Keeping taxes low and exercising fiscal restraint helped ensure that the number of jobs increased and the deficit once again fell ahead of schedule. The underpinnings of our economy have proven strong, competitive, and resilient enough to overcome the challenges we face. In the coming year, we will continue to encourage growth in the economy so Americans have more money to invest in their businesses, spend on their families, and put aside for the future.

In addition to our efforts here at home, the United States continued its work to spread freedom and peace around the world. America is determined to defeat terrorists and extremists, and we will remain on the offensive against the enemies of freedom. In 2008, we will continue to stand beside our partners in the international community to lay a foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren.

America is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our Nation's troops and their families. During this hopeful time of year, we remain mindful of the courage and resolve of the fine men and women who protect our country and defend freedom's cause.

As we welcome this New Year, we move forward with trust in the power of the American spirit, confidence in our purpose, and faith in a loving God who created us to be free.

Laura and I send our best wishes for a happy New Year. May God bless you, may God bless our troops and their families, and may God bless America.

GEORGE W. BUSH

‎

Al Gore To Visit George Bush In The Whitehouse

This should be interesting. I think that Bush should ask the Nobel Prize Committee for a recount.

‎

Tony Snow on Cancer's Unexpected Blessings

The following is an excerpt from an article by Tony Snow on Cancer's Unexpected Blessings:

Blessings arrive in unexpected packages—in my case, cancer.

Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.

The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the why questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? We can't answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.

I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.

But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.

Click her to read the rest of the article.

‎