A Little Of The Old In And Out



(image via drudgiepoo)

In: "What Happened." Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's new book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," is being described by various news outlets as "scathing," and, in others as an "excoriation." Apparently, the President -- the same who looked into Vladimir "Pootie-Poot's" soul -- thought that McClellan would go quietly into the night with his reputation destroyed, taking one for the team.

Not quite.

In the case of disgraced former CIA chief George Tenet, for instance, the cost of silence was a Congressional Medal of Freedom. Everyone has a price, and some people can be had on the cheap. But McClellan didn't even rate that. And so comes payback. Big time. We are categorically not fans of McClellan or of the whole revenge memoir genre, but this is the topic of all conversations today among the chattering classes and it -- along with Paul O'Neal's account and Woodward's series -- will all play a role as the first draft of how historians will judge the Bush administration. We hope that judgement is harsh. From ABCNews:

"He calls the Iraq war a 'serious strategic blunder' and 'grave mistake' and chastises the president for his 'decision to turn away from candor and honesty when these qualities were most needed.'

"'The Iraq war was not necessary,' concludes McCLellan, who defended the war during his three years as the White House spokesman.

"'Scott is in for a whirlwind, I can tell you that from personal experience,' said Matthew Dowd a former Bush advisor who publicly criticized the White House's handling of Iraq and is now a commentator for ABC News."

This should do wonders for his 26-percent approval rating.




(image via cgfocus)

Out: HBO. While we reserve the right to renew HBO's cool pass, right now their membership dues are seriously in arrears (Averted Gaze). John From Cincinnatti? What were they thinking? From the salmon-colored weekly:

"Over the past few weeks, HBO has announced a series of moves to stem the tide of speculation that the network is faltering ... Even as its documentary, original-movie and comedy programming remain strong, the network has been without a new hit series for some time now. Lucky Louie tanked. John From Cincinnati is practically a punch line. In Treatment, the five-day-a-week peek into therapy that aired this past winter, was a little too much like, well, therapy to draw a mass crowd. The Wire, which reliably delivered critical acclaim for five seasons, is over. And Flight of the Conchords? Although it was renewed, that show is kids’ stuff compared to the shows that kept HBO series so far ahead of the rest. What they do next has to be big, smart, serious, bold."

For the time being that involves Tina Brown and Frank Rich. More here.



(image via montereyherald)

In: Gary Hart. What can one say about a man who resumed his doctoral studies -- at Oxford -- in what can only be properly construed as his senior years, when most people believe that they already know everything? One could say that he, like Edmund Wilson and Miles Davis and other American originals, were always learning.

The former Senator continues to be a statesman of the highest magnitude. On Tuesday, Hart gave a speech at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterrey. He returned to his theme of "the security of the commons," marrying it to his ongoing preoccupation with America's national security in a world of increasing pandaemonium. From The Monterrey Herald:

"It has been through such violent, demoralizing attacks that nation-states began disintegrating after the Cold War ended, (Hart) said. Hart noted that nation-states came into being in the 17th century as a pact between the populace, which offered its allegiance, and a government, which promised protection in return.

"Hart said the rule of government and law in many portions of the world has been replaced by 'tribes, religious fundamentalist movements and gangs — non-state actors.'

"A key to achieving security, Hart said, lies in the United States' other role as 'guardian of the commons.'

"It is the U.S. that currently guarantees the world oil supply, he said. And the U.S. should enlist other nations with similar values and interests — equality, transparency in policymaking, freedom of the press and an independent judiciary — in safeguarding and organizing a world economy to promote stability and prosperity."

More here.