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Audacity of Truth
Whiner-in-Chief:
"[W]hether the grumbling is about Republicans on Fox or bloggers in pajamas, there's a word for what the president and his aides are doing. That word is "whining." And nothing [...] does more damage to Obama's credibility or authority than the sense that a popular president is becoming the whiner-in-chief."
- John Nichols, Nation Magazine - 10/12/09
WH press secretary Scott McClellan has resigned
Via AP:
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Wednesday he is resigning, continuing a shakeup in President Bush’s administration that has already yielded a new chief of staff and could lead to a change in the Cabinet.
Appearing with Bush on the White House South Lawn just before the president boarded a helicopter at the start a trip to Alabama, McClellan, who has parried especially fiercefully with reporters on Iraq and on intelligence issues, told Bush: “I have given it my all sir and I have given you my all sir, and I will continue to do so as we transition to a new press secretary.”
Bush said McClellan had “a challenging assignment.”
“I thought he handled his assignment with class, integrity,” the president said. “It’s going to be hard to replace Scott, but nevertheless he made the decision and I accepted it. One of these days, he and I are going to be rocking in chairs in Texas and talking about the good old days.”
Also, in an ongoing shakeup of the president’s staff, longtime confidant and adviser Karl Rove is giving up oversight of policy development to focus more on politics with the approach of the fall midterm elections, a senior administration official said Wednesday.
Just over a year ago, Rove was promoted to deputy chief of staff in charge of most White House policy coordination. That new portfolio came on top of his title as senior adviser and role of chief policy aide to Bush.
But now, the job of deputy chief of staff for policy is being given to Joel Kaplan, now the White House’s deputy budget director, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the president had not yet made the announcement.
The move signals a possibly broad effort to rearrange and reinvigorate Bush’s staff by new chief of staff Joshua Bolten. Bolten moved into his position last week; Kaplan was his No. 2 person at the Office of Management and Budget.
More: Fox News radio talk show host Tony Snow has been approached by the WH as a possible replacement – heh 
(Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)
Check out Rightwinged.com for many links and updates on the Snow speculation.
Update I: The Political Pit Bull takes us down McClellan memory lane with a video montage.
Update II: Via Hotline, more speculation on who will replace McClellan:
Rob Nichols, currently the pres. of the Financal Services Forum? Insiders think his appointment is unlikely, although he does know Bolten.
Dan Bartlett It would obviously be a step down, but he is arguably the best on-camera communicator the Bush White House has… and he has a good relationship with most members of the press. He’s also — obviously — very close to Bolten and Bush. He could do it for the rest of the year, groom a deputy in the meantime.
Victoria Clark — She’s close to Bolten, and, importantly, could assert herself as a peer to Rove and Bartlett. Would she take the job if her access to Bush and Bolten were guaranteed? Would the WH worry about her role as Pentagon spokeswoman during the Iraq war? Still, Clarke, asked a few weeks back about whether she’d take the job, replied: “You know, what did Sherman say? If nominated, won’t run; if elected, will not serve. Not happening.”
Dan Senor – very well liked, but some in the president’s circle believe that he enjoyed the spotlight a bit too much when he was Bremer’s press guy. The Bush White House doesn’t reward flash and sizzle, at least when manifested by aides to the president. His recent marriage to NBCer Campbell Brown is considered by some Republicans to be a “deal-breaker.”
Brian Jones — currently the RNC’s comm. dir. Considered one of the best managers in the GOP comm. business. But he’ll likely stay at the RNC. He also lacks on-camera experience.
Ron Bonjean — current comm. dir to Denny Hastert; former comm. chief for Don Evans; has crisis experience, to boot. (He worked for Trent Lott during the relevant period of Mr. Lott’s career.) Smart and talented and well-liked by the press. However, he is also not likely to leave his current job.
My personal preference would be Stephen Hayes, but then that would mean he’d 1) be too tied to the admin and 2) would mean he wouldn’t have as much time to focus on the Iraq/AQ connections.
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42 Responses to “WH press secretary Scott McClellan has resigned”
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I’d like to see Ann Coulter as White House Press Secretary. The fireworks resulting would truly be legendary, and would make the press briefings worth watching. It’d be worth it just to watch her and Helen “The Gnome” Thomas lock horns!
Unfortunately that would be a 3 ring circus, but hilarious from the start.
The press has their feelings hurt as is, can you imagine if Coulter wsa doing the press conferences, helen would have a coronary and gregory would cry.
But I don’t think any real information would be getting out to the public though. It would be more like jerry springer press releases.
Or they might start throwing pies at her like the students at that one college did.
Scott seemed like a nice guy, but he didn’t seem strong enough for my tastes. I like the way Donald Rumsfeld handles the press. I always thought I could do McClellan’s job better than him. No offense to Scott, but he was just too nice to those vultures. I would have properly spanked alot of those reporters. I don’t mind the ones that ask the tough questions, it is just the attitude of many in the press, was disrespectful and rude.
G, I totally dig the way Rummy handles the press. It’s entertaining to watch
I love it to. It’s mesmerizing. It makes for some of the best C-SPAN. He does it with logic and a straight face and common sense and tears arguments to shreds with such ease.
If you can’t step up to the plate then don’t step at all…
I’m not unhappy to see McClellan go. Nice guy and all, I’m sure, but I think he was overwhelmed and burned out after the first six months of trying to deal with the media. You can’t face that rabid pack of Liberals known as the WH Press Corps without a whip, a chair and a pistol. Bush needs someone who can do more than weakly try to deflect criticism — he needs a positive, charismatic, energetic spokesman.
Seriously though, I’d hire someone like Katie Couric or Connie Chung, or Diane Sawyer.
One of the drive by legacy media types. So they could be on the receiving end for awhile.
I’m available. There may be blood on the walls when I’m through though. I don’t cut any of those primadonnas any slack.
You’d call those potheads dopesmokers?
- Great suggestion about Coulter. I could just picture day one:
- “Good Morning. Before I take any questions from any of you mealy mouthed Liberal media lap dogs, I want it clear that the first media-dork that uses “Iraqui war” and “Quagmire” in the same sentence is going to be wearing the toe of my high heels in his or her butt crack. Ok, you may now ask your dumb-ass left-wing questions”….
- She’d probably strangle Thomas on her panty hose in the first two days.
- Would love to see that. Make gaggles one of the top rated shows on daytime TV.
- Bang
I think they should bring in General Honore, “You are stuck on stupid.” …
That would be fun to watch too.
How about a “Dirty Harry” type I could here it now:
I know what you’re thinking Thomas. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I’ve kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya really want to ask another stupid liberal question?
Your solution to the need for a new press secretary is to jail or kill all of the press and eliminate the job? Stupid, but funny. Peace
Only the ones that continue to ask stupid liberal slanted questions. So Steve(fn) if you were in the White house press corps, well I think you know what would happen.
Jim M, I’ll bet you would have beaten Christ, if ordered to do so, wouldn’t you? Peace
steve(FN), you are Pontius Pilate reincarnated. You issue your little edicts and then go wash your hands of it.
- To lighten it up a little, (I think everyone on here gets a bit tired of hearing the chief poster of “peace” continue on and on about murder and meyhem, which is kind of ironic when you think about it) theres the story of the “scourging in the garden”. to wit:
Jesus said to his tormenters: “Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone”…
A few seconds later a nice baseball sized rock comes flying out of the crowd and conks Jesus on the noggin. He shakes the cobwebs out of his head and turns looking through the crowd and spots his attacker and says:
“You know, sometimes mom you really get on my last nerve”….
- Bang
Wow look at that folks Steve(fn) thinks he is the Great Karnack or a Swami or something.
You would be the one I would like to kick the crap out of, but that would take to long because you are so full of it. Maybe I could beat your brains out, but then again you are lacking in that department nothing but empty space between your ears. So I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with helping you look like the fool you are and believe me you don’t need much help.
I’m totally inspired by your commentary, Jim. Specially that brilliant part about beating the peacenik’s brains out.
Point taken: Disagreement is not appreciated. Discussion discouraged.
Outta here.
Point taken: Disagreement is not appreciated. Discussion discouraged.
Outta here.
Missed the point entirely.
We have no problem with disagreement or a different opinion, we also encourage discussion as long as it is sane (no pun intended), and backed up with proof.
You back it up with proof on what your saying and we will have a good discussion and even consider your arguements.
But when you have people such as steve that are like drive by regurgitators that spew such nonsense and not even offer proof, we get a bit peturbed. And when called out on it, he just ignores the questions, goes off topic, and never offers any proof of his drive by regurgitations.
Discussion and differing opinions are very welcome, but fortunately drive by drivel without proof is not.
Here is a fact: Only 25% of the American people think that the country is going in the right direction. Here is my opinion: that 25% are either crazy people or bush’s relatives. Do you see the difference sanity? If you carefully read with I write, it is opinion,my opinion. Here is anoteher fact: Stockpiles of crude oil are above historic levels. The supply of gasoline is below historic levels. Refineries are producing at 85% of capacity. My conclusion: they are holding 15% of gasoline production off the market to increase the pump price(now $3.00 a gallon). What I say next is opinion: The increased price of gasoline is required to pay for bush’s war in Iraq. If you don’t care for my opinion’s argue the point, don’t just throw invective. Peace
Count me as part of the 75%. Bush has governed to the left of center. I am a centrist/conservative who would like to see this government stop growing and the U.S. take control of it’s borders. There are plenty of center/right people who think like me and wherever you got the statistic from I can guarantee you it doesn’t mean that the majority of people want MORE government Steve.
Even more peace !
This is, I realize, off topic, since ST’s post was about press secretary, but to respond to some of the “opinions” and “conclusions” above:
Oil refinery “capacity” very seldom, if ever, runs at 100%, because the facilities break down and have to be repaired. Some “capacity” cannot be realized, because of those repairs. From 1985 – 1989, operable capacity ranged from 77.6% to 86.3%. From 1990 to 1999, it ranged between 87.1% and 92.1%. From 2001 to the latest compilation in 2004, it ranged from 92.6% to 93.0%. See HERE for the records.
Operable US processing capacity has increased from 15.671 million barrels per day in 1985 to 16.974 million barrels per day in 2004. Output has increased, but usage/demand is up, too. News accounts say India and China both now compete more heavily for the world’s supply of oil. China’s industrialization is ramping up dramatically. Production in some African nations is down due to national crises. Rising demand for available commodities drives up price.
I know some of us don’t like to live with capitalism, but let’s at least learn how it works. To paraphrase Churchill, capitalism is the worst form of economic system, except for all that have been tried from time to time.
/perm ignore on: Steve the demented
- However we’ll keep a close watch on him 24/7 for everyones safety.
- Bang
I am really gonna miss Scotty, he did a great job.
Bachbone, you make the point, but missed one. We used to buy refined gasoline on the open market. That market has been shrinking because developing nations like China have been buying in increasing volume. GM makes Buicks in China for local consumption.
steve(FN) rails about Bush making so much money on the oil prices. Well by his tax return, Bush mades less than $800K, $400 of which was his salary as President. Now, where is all that money steve(FN)? This is one point Scott should have challenged the MSM reporters and columnists who make up the WH press corps on.
I wish I could be Press Secretary for the rest of Bush’s term. You can believe that the MSM would be challenged on their lies and on the outside of the press room if they didn’t recant the lies and own up to their misdeeds.
Not that he would, but Newt Gingerich would be interesting, though not as much fun as Perot, in dealing with the clammoring headhunters. That would be an unrivaled pay per view event.
Funny thing though, they reported on Cheney’s tax return, and Bushes, but neglected say, Deans, and Reids, and how about Pelosi’s or Clintons.
Why report on just Bush and Cheney, I would be interested in seeing ALL tax returns for Congress.
I am sure that would make for some good reading.
If I had oil, I’d hold it from the market for 2 reasons: first, it will be worth alot more money in 20 years. Second, many of the oil producing countries hate bush and causing problems for him by driving up the cost of gas would be good fun. The foreign policy of the bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld administration has been a disaster. Peace
steve(FN), you mean you didn’t get any “Oil For Food” vouchers from Saddam for your support of his regime??? You work cheaper than an illegal alien.
That’s our steve for you, showing the typical leftist disregard for the damage his actions would cause. Yeah, to teach the evil ol’Bushitler a lesson, withold oil. The fact that it will mainly impact the poor and lower income working classes, causing hardship, unemployment, and general suffering, is not important, because, afterall, liberals really only care about themselves. The only time the suffering of the poor is important is if they can blame it on the evil Republicpukes, and use it as a lever to get more control over our lives ceded to the government.
Hypocritical dolt.
- Well Sev ,theres actually another time the asshats suddenly fawn all over the poor and lower class…. when it comes time to vote.
- Bang
That would be in November when every sitting politician will be voted out of office. You know,”A clean sweep for a clean slate”. Unless, of course, you think that Rove has a secret plan to save the Republicans. Peace
“That would be in November when every sitting politician will be voted out of office.”
That sounds familiar…..oh that’s right. I believe I heard it several times in 2004……….right before Bush won RE-election! LOL!!!!!!!!
“Unless, of course, you think that Rove has a secret plan to save the Republicans”
Ohhhh. you noticed the eeevvvilll Rove moved back into the chief political coordinator slot, huh Steve? Worried Already, Got your triple layer tin-foil beanie ready to go.
BTW. I spoke to Rove and he let me in on the secret plan. I’ll post here for you so you can be the first of the asshats to know.
“Roves great big secret plan for beating the Dimbulbs”
…Just let the Liberals keep making complete fools of themselves, every time they do something anti-American, get caught in one of their scams, or simply open their jackass mouths and breyyyyyyyy.
- Unbeatible approach. No wonder you guys are so afraid of him….
- Bang